Chinese representatives strongly criticize Japan! International Atomic Energy Agency | International | China
On the 5th local time, Zhang Kejian, Director of the National Atomic Energy Agency of China and Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency in China, attended the June Board of Directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. He gave a speech on the issue of Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea and strongly criticized Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water. In response to Japan's sophistry, Ambassador Li Song, the Permanent Representative of China to the International Atomic Energy Agency, exercised his right of defense and strongly refuted it.
Zhang Kejian pointed out that the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea is a major issue related to the global marine environment and public health, and is not a private matter of the Japanese side. The Japanese side has ignored the legitimate and reasonable concerns of its own citizens and countries around the world, and has yet to provide scientific and credible explanations on the concerns of all parties. It has also failed to fully consult with stakeholders, including neighboring countries, and has stubbornly accelerated the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. This is an extremely irresponsible behavior.
Ambassador Li Song, the Permanent Representative of China to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Zhang Kejian, the Director of the National Atomic Energy Agency of China and the Chinese Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, attended the June Board of Directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Zhang Kejian emphasized that the total amount, complex composition, and long disposal cycle of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water are unprecedented. The nuclear contaminated water treated by the multi nuclide purification treatment system still has multiple radioactive nuclide contents exceeding the standard, and its maturity and effectiveness need to be verified; The ALPS system needs to dispose of over 1.3 million tons of nuclear contaminated water over a period of up to 30 years, and the performance and efficiency of long-term high load operation are questionable. Many nuclides lack effective processing techniques, and some long-lived nuclides may diffuse with ocean currents and form bioaccumulation effects, which will have unpredictable impacts on marine ecology and human health. Japan's attempt to conceal the harm of nuclear contaminated water being discharged into the sea without verifying the long-term reliability of relevant technologies and purification devices is unacceptable.
Zhang Kejian urged Japan to pay attention to the concerns of the international community, conscientiously fulfill its international obligations, dispose of nuclear contaminated water in a scientific, open, transparent, and safe manner, and accept strict international supervision. The authority of the technical working group shall not be compromised, the report of the technical working group shall not be distorted, and the review of the technical working group shall not be used as a "talisman". We hope that the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue to uphold an objective and impartial stance, fully listen to the opinions of stakeholders, strictly implement relevant international safety standards and good practices, and the final report of the Technical Working Group will not endorse Japan's sea discharge plan. We will resolutely prevent Japan's irresponsible sea discharge practices from causing harm to the global marine environment and public health.
The Japanese representative cunningly argued that the "treated water" purified by ALPS is no different from the normal operation drainage of nuclear power plants, and its discharge plan to the sea is scientifically reasonable and has been reviewed and certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Ambassador Li Song pointed out pointedly that the Japanese side has changed the concept, and the discharge of nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the sea is completely different from the normal operation of nuclear power plants. Since the Japanese government boldly decided to discharge Fukushima nuclear contaminated water despite strong opposition from the international community, especially neighboring countries, it has repeatedly argued that what they want to discharge is "treated water" purified by ALPS, which is safe and harmless. Since it is harmless, why insist on discharging into the ocean? The answer given by Japan's own expert committee is very clear: this is the most cost-effective and minimizes Japan's own pollution risk.
Li Song said that regarding the disposal of nuclear contaminated water in Fukushima, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has proposed five solutions, and experts from neighboring countries have also proposed relevant solutions. Without fully demonstrating other disposal options beyond discharging into the sea, Japan unilaterally decided to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the ocean for its own selfish interests. This will transfer the risk of pollution from the Fukushima nuclear accident to neighboring countries and the surrounding environment, leading to secondary harm to the world and humanity. This long-term and large-scale pollution of the marine environment is unprecedented. So far, the Japanese side has not provided sufficient scientific and factual basis to address the international community's concerns about the legitimacy of Japan's sea discharge plan, the effectiveness of purification devices, the reliability of nuclear contaminated water data, and the uncertainty of environmental impact.
Li Song emphasized that Japan has invited the International Atomic Energy Agency's Technical Working Group to Japan, and its authorization scope is strictly limited to evaluating the option of discharging into the sea, excluding other options. In this situation, no matter what assessment and conclusion the technical working group makes, it cannot be concluded that discharging into the sea is the only, safest, and most reliable option for disposing of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water. Any work carried out by the working group cannot become a "talisman" or "pass" for the Japanese decision to discharge into the sea. The decision of the Japanese side to discharge the sea not only fails to convince their own people, but also makes neighboring countries and Pacific island citizens, including China, uneasy and unwilling to agree! China strongly urges Japan to address the serious concerns of the international community, dispose of nuclear contaminated water in the safest and most secure way, and accept strict international supervision to ensure that Fukushima nuclear contaminated water does not cause long-term harm to the world.
@CCTV International News Weibo screenshot
