Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Responds to Journalists' Questions on Japan's Strong Promotion of Nuclear Polluted Water Discharge Plan into the Sea | Japanese Government | Spokesperson
Q: According to Japanese media reports, Japan is considering initiating the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea from late August to mid September. What is China's comment on this? It is reported that the Japanese government hopes to provide China with an explanation of the safety of sea discharge before it starts. May I ask if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has any comments on this? Has China and Japan communicated on the safety of discharging into the sea?
Answer: China has always opposed Japan's forced discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the ocean and shifting the risk of nuclear pollution to the world. The Japanese government should fully respond to the concerns of the international community, fulfill its moral responsibility and international legal obligations, stop the forced discharge plan, dispose of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water with a genuine and responsible attitude and in a safe and effective manner, and accept strict international supervision to avoid irreparable harm to global marine life and human health. The above position of the Chinese side is objective, fair, and well founded, not only to ensure the health of the people, but also to maintain global marine environmental security.
China has always expressed concerns to Japan based on science and facts. China has conducted exchanges with Japan through bilateral and multilateral channels, repeatedly expressing the opinions and concerns of its professional departments. China and Russia have also submitted three joint technical questionnaires to Japan based on international good practices in science, technology, and nuclear safety, questioning Japan's plan to discharge into the sea.
Ensuring the safety of nuclear contaminated water disposal relies on a serious and responsible attitude and scientific and comprehensive argumentation, rather than public relations lobbying everywhere. Unfortunately, for over two years, the Japanese side has ignored the reasonable concerns and opposition of all parties, strongly promoted the plan to discharge into the sea, refused to discuss other safety disposal plans, and insisted on launching the discharge into the sea this summer. If Japan truly has the sincerity to address the concerns of 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. Otherwise, the so-called "explanation" loses its meaning.