Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We do not want August 24, 2023 to become a disaster day for the marine environment. Wang Wenbin | Japan | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On August 23rd, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference.
A reporter asked, according to Japanese media reports, the Japanese government will initiate the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm. What is China's comment on this?
Wang Wenbin's information chart shows that regarding Japan's insistence on announcing the launch of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea on August 24th, I have already explained China's solemn position yesterday. Yesterday, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Tsui Hideo and made solemn representations to the Japanese side. The Chinese side pointed out that the Japanese government disregards strong questioning and opposition from the international community, and insists on announcing the launch of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea, openly transferring the risk of nuclear pollution to neighboring countries, including China, and the international community. It puts its own interests above the long-term well-being of people in the region and around the world, which is extremely selfish and irresponsible. China expresses serious concern and strong opposition.
Wang Wenbin pointed out that the ocean is the blue homeland on which all humanity relies for survival, and Japan is not allowed to dump nuclear contaminated water at will. Japan's strong push to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea is undoubtedly a gamble on the global marine environment and human health. If Japan truly has the sincerity to address the concerns of its neighboring countries, it should immediately stop the strong push for sea discharge plans, engage in exchanges without predetermined results, and fully discuss all possible safety disposal plans.
![Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We do not want August 24, 2023 to become a disaster day for the marine environment. Wang Wenbin | Japan | Ministry of Foreign Affairs](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/4569feb0ac15f394472ed88fed2a65f4.jpg)
Wang Wenbin emphasized that China strongly urges Japan to withdraw its erroneous decision, stop forcefully promoting plans to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, communicate with neighboring countries in good faith with a sincere attitude, and handle it responsibly to avoid unpredictable damage and harm to the global marine environment. If the Japanese side insists on strongly promoting the plan to discharge into the sea, the Chinese government will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the marine environment, food safety, and public health.
"We cannot recover from the past, and we do not want August 24, 2023 to become a disaster day for the marine environment. If Japan persists in its actions, it must bear historical responsibility for this," said Wang Wenbin.