"Japan's strong promotion of nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea will only lay the foundation for the future" (International Perspective) Plan | Japan | Perspective

The South Korean citizen group "National Action to Stop Japan's Radioactive Water Discharge into the Sea" recently held a large-scale rally. People hold blue balloons resembling whales and hold slogans such as "Oppose the discharge of radioactive contaminated water", expressing anger at the Japanese government's insistence on advancing its plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea despite opposition from neighboring countries and the international community.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yiliang

The Japanese government disregards the legitimate and reasonable concerns of all parties and insists on promoting the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, which has aroused strong opposition and criticism from both Japan and the international community. All parties urge Japan to stop its erroneous actions, effectively dispose of nuclear contaminated water in a scientific, safe, and transparent manner, and accept strict international supervision, and not impose unpredictable risks on the international community.

"Using the report as a 'shield' will trigger stronger opposition voices."

July 17th is Japan's statutory holiday "Sea Day", aimed at thanking the kindness of the sea. The Japanese people spontaneously held multiple activities to oppose the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The "Do not Discharge Polluted Water into the Sea - Protecting the Ocean and Life" rally, initiated by citizen groups such as the "Stop Polluting the Ocean! Citizen Conference," was held in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. People expressed opposition to the sea discharge plan and called on the government to reconsider the plan. On that day, the "Future of the Ocean" project initiated by non-profit organizations such as the Fukushima Prefecture Peace Forum in Japan was officially launched, aiming to prevent the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company from discharging nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea.

Recently, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Yasumi Nishimura, went to Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture to meet with representatives of fishing groups and report on the content of the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment report, attempting to seek understanding from fishing professionals. The President of the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Cooperation Association Federation, Tetsuya Nozaki, immediately reiterated that the Fukushima fishing group insists on opposing the sea discharge plan. During a meeting with Yasuhiro Nishimura, President of the National Fisheries Association of Japan, Yasuhisa Sakamoto, also stated that the All Fisheries Association's firm opposition to the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea has not changed.

The Nihon Shimbun recently published an editorial stating that the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment report is not a "recommendation" or "support" for Japan's sea discharge plan. Japan and the international community are strongly concerned about this, and the Japanese government should not rely on the report to prove the safety of the sea discharge plan. "Japan's strong push for nuclear contaminated water to be discharged into the sea will only lay the foundation for the future." According to an editorial in the Tokushima Shimbun, the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment report is by no means a license for Japan to advance its discharge plan. "Using the report as a 'shield' will trigger stronger opposition.".

The Fukushima Roundtable Conference, jointly initiated by multiple local scholars in Fukushima, recently held its first meeting. The initiator of the event and former president of Fukushima University, Katsuki Nakai, stated that the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea cannot turn the years of efforts of local fishermen into nothing. Masahiro Sugano, who operates organic agriculture in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, said that the sea discharge plan did not take into account the opinions of Fukushima residents, and the majority of the local population insisted on opposing it. Fukushima University Professor of Hydrogeology Naomi Shibata stated that relevant studies have shown that Tokyo Electric Power Company has not taken fundamental and effective measures to control nuclear contaminated water, and related waterproofing projects have not been thoroughly researched at the beginning of design. In the future, nuclear contaminated water will continue to increase, and discharge into the sea will continue for a longer period of time.

During a protest rally in front of the Japanese Prime Minister's residence, member of the Japanese citizen group "Don't pollute the ocean again! Citizen Council", Emi Kataoka, stated that in the 12 years since the Fukushima nuclear accident, local fishermen have worked tirelessly to gradually restore the severely damaged fishing industry. The sea discharge plan may cause the local fishery development to regress again, and fishermen are angry and desperate about it. "We strongly demand the revocation of the discharge plan and open and thorough negotiations on how to dispose of nuclear contaminated water."

According to a poll released by Kyodo News Agency on July 16th, over 80% of respondents stated that the Japanese government's explanation of the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea is insufficient. The joint representative of the non-profit organization "Atomic Energy Data and Intelligence Unit" in Japan, Yukio Ban, criticized that the Japanese government did not fully consider other disposal plans for nuclear contaminated water when making plans to discharge it into the sea, which has caused opposition from multiple parties.

Recently, the leader of the Japanese Social Democratic Party, Mizuo Fukushima, had exchanges with a delegation of South Korean parliamentarians visiting Japan and reached an agreement to demand that the Japanese government revoke its plan to discharge pollutants into the sea. Fukushima Mizuho stated that the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea has not been understood by fisheries personnel, and that "forcefully promoting the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea clearly violates commitments and lacks legitimacy.". South Korean congressman Yoon Mei hung condemned the Japanese government's push for a sea discharge plan as a "very barbaric act" and emphasized the need to explore solutions beyond sea discharge.

"Japan's choice of the cheapest sea discharge plan is extremely irresponsible."

Recently, multiple civic groups in South Korea held rallies with opposition parties to question the credibility of the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment report and strongly protest against Japan's push for a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. On July 15th, the National Democratic Labor Union of South Korea held a large-scale rally in Seoul, with nearly 30000 people from 37 groups in South Korea participating. Multiple representatives expressed that Japan's sea discharge plan is extremely irresponsible, not only violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but also violating the relevant provisions of the London Convention on Dumping.

Lee Jung wai, the leader of the Justice Party of South Korea, stated that he is currently promoting the establishment of a joint network between South Korea and Japan to jointly oppose the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, hoping to form a stronger opposition force. Long Hye jen, the permanent representative of the Basic Income Party of South Korea, said, "In the situation where nuclear contaminated water is not the only solution to discharge into the sea, Japan's choice of the cheapest solution to discharge into the sea is extremely irresponsible. The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company should take full responsibility for the nuclear accident and its subsequent impacts."

A recent report by the Korean National Daily pointed out that if nuclear contaminated water is truly as safe as Japan claims, transparent methods should be adopted for confirmation, and multiple samples should be collected for analysis. But sample collection has always been monopolized by Tokyo Electric Power Company, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has not personally taken samples. Fish caught in the waters near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been continuously detected to exceed radioactive standards. The cesium content of grouper caught in May exceeded the standard by more than 180 times, and the cesium content of sixth line fish caught in April exceeded the standard by 12 times. Once Japan initiates its sea discharge plan, South Korea's aquaculture industry will be directly impacted.

The rotating chairman of the Pacific Island Forum and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Brown, recently stated that Japan's controversial plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea has caused anxiety and anger among all parties. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Mahuta recently met with the visiting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Grossy, and stated that it is necessary to draw attention to the painful experience of nuclear testing in the Pacific region and demand that meaningful contacts continue with Pacific countries on related issues.

Robert Richmond, a professor at the University of Hawaii in the United States, stated that as one of the scientists appointed by the Pacific Island Forum to evaluate Japan's nuclear contaminated water discharge plan, he and other experts do not recognize the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive assessment report, stating that "Japan cannot use it as a passport for nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea.". Richmond stated that in the past year and a half, he has reviewed relevant scientific data and found that many scientific data are either insufficient in evidence or not accurate enough. The International Atomic Energy Agency did not conduct relevant analysis, so the conclusions drawn naturally lack credibility.

"Threatening the human rights of people in areas to enjoy a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment"

Recently, the United Nations Human Rights Council reviewed the report on Japan's human rights review, and many countries and international organizations questioned and criticized Japan's strong push for a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea.

Mikel Savia, Permanent Representative of the International Democratic Lawyers Association to the United Nations in Geneva, spoke at the meeting and expressed deep regret that the Japanese government did not accept many of the correction suggestions received by the Human Rights Council during its review of nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea. Countries and people in the Pacific strongly oppose Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The Japanese government should consider the reasonable concerns of the international community and consider alternative solutions to minimize the harm to human health and the environment.

Fiji, Samoa, East Timor, Vanuatu and other countries have expressed concern about Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, and have requested that all data required for independent assessments by Pacific Island Forum scientists be provided as soon as possible, including verifiable scientific data on the impact of emissions on human and marine life; Stop the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the Pacific unless the Pacific Island Forum concludes through independent evaluation that this measure is acceptable; Fully comply with international obligations, especially those stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of the nuclear contaminated water discharge plan at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant; Delay any decision on the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant reactor before conducting necessary international consultations; Develop and implement alternative plans for nuclear contaminated water discharge to protect people and ecosystems in the Pacific region from the hazards of nuclear contaminated water.

Saito Hisashi, a representative of the non-governmental organization Evantu from Switzerland, said at the meeting that Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea has raised concerns among many Pacific countries and fisheries practitioners, and the Japanese government should strive to find other solutions.

Recently, non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace and the International Democratic Lawyers Association have also submitted joint reports on Japan's human rights review, questioning the Japanese government's claim of nuclear contaminated water safety. The report states that in 2018, Tokyo Electric Power Company admitted that the "multi nuclide treatment system" failed to reduce the radioactive concentration of most of the contaminated water stored in the water tank. The multi nuclide processing system itself is not designed to remove radioactive isotopes such as tritium and carbon-14, which will result in many radioactive isotopes being discharged into the Pacific Ocean. The report points out that "Japan's practices directly threaten the human rights of people in the region to enjoy a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment", and urges Japan to fully comply with its legal obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other provisions.