World

U.S.: Japan Killing Protected Whales

September 13, 2000 / 4:42 PM EDT / AP

The Clinton administration on Wednesday moved to punish Japan for overly aggressive whaling, beginning a process that could lead to economic sanctions.

"Strong international cooperation has allowed the recovery of many whale species once pushed to the brink of extinction," President Clinton said in a written statement. "We must work to ensure that these protections are upheld."

The White House complained that Japan violated international whaling rules this summer by hunting two species protected under U.S. law. Japan claims that it is hunting Bryde's and sperm whales in the North Pacific for scientific purposes.

"Japan is killing whales in the name of scientific research to satisfy a demand for whale meat in a few high-end restaurants and gourmet boutiques," Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta said.

Until July, Japan's research program was limited to minke whales.

Mineta said the United States and international conservation bodies fear that Japan is trying to resume commercial whaling on a scale banned since 1986.

Clinton directed his Cabinet to investigate the practice and list his options, including trade sanctions. Sanctions would likely cover Japanese fishery products.

The United States will also deny Japan access to some fishing rights in U.S. waters.

"We do not take these steps lightly," White House chief of staff John Podesta said. "We hope the Japanese government will heed the protests of the international community and reverse its actions."

Thomas Foley, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said in Washington he hoped the Japanese government "would reconsider their action so a decision restricting fishing rights can be avoided."

He said the United States has repeatedly raised the whaling issue in high-level contacts with Japanese officials, most recently last week when Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in New York.

In Tokyo, the government's top spokesman said Japan will retaliate if the United States imposes sanctions.

"If the U.S. does in fact impose sanctions on us unilaterally, we would have to take action in line with international rules," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa said.

While Nakagawa did not elaborate, Japan's response could include lodging a complaint with the World Trade Organization.

The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling in the mid-1980s but allowed whaling countries to kill whales to gather information on migration, eating patterns and pollution levels. Japanese officials claim that there is no way to conduct the research without killing whales.