"China has agreed to "gradually resume" imports of Japanese seafood products a year after it imposed a ban in response to the release of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The decision was made after "rounds of talks" between Beijing and Tokyo over the impact discharging the waste water into the Pacific Ocean, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday afternoon.
The announcement also came a day after a 10-year-old Japanese boy died from stab wounds sustained in a knife attack in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, raising concerns among the Japanese community in China about safety."
Notably in this source, it is reported that the agreement between the two nations came after a tragic incident of political volatility catalyzing needless interpersonal violence. The article stated that " a 10-year-old Japanese boy died from stab wounds sustained in a knife attack in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, raising concerns among the Japanese community in China about safety."
Therefore, in tragedy, there is also a recognition of humanity of the “other,” despite longer term historical tensions. As exemplified by sources in the post-March 11th and 2023 sections, many Japanese and Chinese civilians are willing to separate the association of an individual from their state of national origin, and prioritize immediate economic and interpersonal necessities instead of nationalist allegiances. Consequently, the reality of civilian relations between Chinese and Japanese civilians post-normalization pressures both governments to act in line with what will best ensure the livelihoods of their respective citizens, even if it means ceasing a political crusade.