Chinese representative: TEPCO, which lacks integrity, and Japan, which is determined to act alone, must be subject to strict international supervision
On the 11th, Li Song, the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, strongly criticized Japan for unilaterally initiating the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, and strongly urged Japan to accept strict international supervision.
Li Song pointed out that on August 24th, the Japanese government ignored strong international doubts and opposition and unilaterally initiated the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. History will remember this day. The discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power into the sea is a major nuclear safety issue with cross-border and long-term far-reaching impacts, and is by no means a private matter of Japan alone. The Fukushima nuclear accident that occurred 12 years ago has caused a serious disaster. Japan has a responsibility and obligation to dispose of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water in the most responsible, safe, and secure manner, in order to avoid causing secondary harm to the marine environment and people around the world. Discharging into the sea is not the only option for disposing of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water, let alone the safest and most responsible option.
Li Song emphasized that the Japanese side did not request the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of disposal options other than sea discharge, but unilaterally imposed sea discharge decisions on the agency and the world. The safety assessment of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge activities by institutions at the request of the Japanese side is of a technical assistance and consulting nature, and does not have international legal effect. The content and conclusions of the institutional evaluation report were not agreed upon by the technical working group. The Director General of the institution clearly stated in the evaluation report that this evaluation report is neither a recommendation nor endorsement of Japan's sea discharge policy. The Japanese side has made extensive use of institutional evaluation reports to forcefully launch sea discharge operations, seriously damaging the authority and credibility of the institutions, seriously damaging the health and marine environmental rights of people in Japan's neighboring countries, and seriously damaging the safety and development interests of the global nuclear energy industry.
Li Song further pointed out that in the situation where Japan unilaterally initiates sea discharge, it is very necessary for the International Atomic Energy Agency to establish a long-term and effective international monitoring mechanism that is not controlled by Japan. Tokyo Electric Power Company, which lacks integrity, and Japan, which is determined to act alone, must be subject to strict international supervision. The fair, independent, and objective safety assessment conducted by institutions during the Japanese discharge phase should be based on the leadership, participation, and regular review by member states of the institutions. Member states and the Council should play a leading role in the establishment of relevant international monitoring mechanisms, and regularly review Japan's maritime discharge issues and international monitoring mechanisms. It is necessary for the institutional secretariat to provide timely, comprehensive, and detailed information to member countries, especially stakeholders, on the implementation of on-site sampling and monitoring activities in Fukushima, carefully listen to the concerns, opinions, and suggestions of all parties, and focus on forming an international monitoring mechanism led by institutions, with effective participation from stakeholders, and long-term effectiveness.
The Japanese representative cunningly argued that the "treated water" purified by the "multi nuclide treatment system" on the Japanese side is safe and harmless, and is no different from the normal operation and drainage of nuclear power plants; The Japanese plan for sea discharge is scientific and reasonable, and the handling process is open and transparent to the international community.
Li Song exercised his right of defense and strongly refuted the Japanese side. He pointed out that before and after Japan launched the sea discharge, the people of its own country and neighboring countries were extremely angry. Any responsible government will not ignore the strong call of the general public to strongly oppose Japan's sea discharge actions. The Japanese side turned a deaf ear to this and blindly imposed the decision to expel the sea on the international community, and tried every means to justify themselves. This is the complete politicization. The Japanese side confuses the nuclear contaminated water generated by nuclear accidents with the wastewater generated during the normal operation of nuclear power plants around the world, completely deviating from the scientific knowledge of nuclear safety.
