The imposition of nuclear pollution risks demonstrates selfishness and arrogance (chime) cooperation | International | chime

On the issue of nuclear contaminated water disposal, Japan should face the reasonable concerns of the international community and, with a responsible attitude towards the global marine environment and public health, engage in full and meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including neighboring countries. Japan's continued strong push to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea will only provoke stronger opposition

The Fukushima nuclear contaminated water in Japan amounts to over 1.3 million tons, containing over 60 types of radioactive nuclides, and will be discharged into the sea for up to 30 years or even longer. Once nuclear contaminated water enters the sea, the radioactive isotopes contained in it will spread to every corner of the ocean. It is obvious that the disposal of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is related to the global marine environment and public health, and is not a private matter of Japan alone. Until the concerns of all stakeholders and the international community are properly addressed, Japan should not initiate the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. However, over the past two years, Japan has been stubbornly pushing for the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, attempting to impose unpredictable risks on the international community, showcasing its selfishness and arrogance to the fullest.

The discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan should fully seek the opinions of stakeholders, including neighboring countries. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea clearly stipulates that once countries become aware of the urgent risk of pollution in the marine environment, they should immediately notify other countries and competent international organizations to cooperate as much as possible to eliminate the effects of pollution and prevent or minimize damage. As a contracting party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and a responsible party for pollution of the marine environment, Japan should engage in consultations with neighboring countries and the international community without any preconceptions, and cooperate with all parties to explore safe and secure nuclear contaminated water treatment solutions. Any act of forcefully promoting a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea goes against the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Japanese side not only failed to fully consult with the international community, especially stakeholders, but also bravely pushed for a plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The Japanese government unilaterally announced in April 2021 that it would discharge Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea. In July 2022, despite strong opposition from the international community, especially neighboring countries and other stakeholders, it officially approved the discharge plan and accelerated preparations for the construction of the discharge project. In March of this year, the Japanese openly declared that the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea during the spring and summer seasons could not be postponed; In June of this year, despite strong opposition from all parties, the Japanese government conducted a trial operation of a nuclear contaminated water discharge facility, taking another step towards unilaterally forcibly discharging nuclear contaminated water into the ocean; In July of this year, the Japanese side repeatedly claimed that "the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water will start this summer, and this plan has not changed.". The words and actions of the Japanese government over the past two years fully demonstrate that Japan has been demanding that the international community accept its predetermined discharge results, without any sincerity in negotiation.

The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company have made promises not to initiate the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea without the understanding of relevant parties, but they have gradually deviated from their promises. The words and actions of Japan have exhausted the patience of its domestic people and stakeholders such as neighboring countries. Pacific Island Forum Secretary General Puna stated that the Japanese government has pledged to maintain communication with Pacific Island countries in the disposal of nuclear contaminated water and provide all independent and verifiable scientific evidence. However, it is regrettable that the Japanese government has not cooperated and what they intend to do goes against their previous commitments. Pacific island countries have proposed that international consultations on Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea should not be limited to the International Atomic Energy Agency, but should also be conducted through platforms such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the London Dumping Convention. This demand deserves high attention from the international community.

Although the Japanese side has requested the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct a review and evaluation under domestic and international pressure, it has not demonstrated respect for the agency. The Japanese side has already set the outcome for the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea, and its discharge plan has always been ahead of institutional review and evaluation. Last July, the Japanese officially approved the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, which was a bold decision made while the institutional technical working group was still conducting review and evaluation; In January of this year, the Japanese side announced in a high-profile manner that they would launch sea discharge in the spring and summer of this year, just before the institutional technical working group went to Japan for inspection and evaluation. The Japanese side has also imposed strict restrictions on the scope of authorization for institutional review and evaluation, resulting in limitations and one-sidedness in the conclusions of the comprehensive assessment report on the disposal of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water issued by the agency. This act of going its own way has made it clear to the world that Japan only follows a unilateral plan to advance sea discharge, without respecting the authority of institutions and technical working groups.

The Japanese side not only does not follow the principle of good faith consultation in the disposal of nuclear contaminated water, but also backfires, claiming that China has repeatedly rejected Japan's proposal for a scientific expert dialogue between the two countries. This indicates that the Japanese side has not reflected on the wrong decision to forcefully promote the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The Japanese side should ask themselves: What is the significance of dialogue and negotiation under the premise of their preset sea discharge results? If the Japanese side really has the sincerity to negotiate, they should announce a suspension of sea discharge, allow neighboring countries and other stakeholders to independently sample and analyze nuclear contaminated water, and agree to explore all possible disposal options except for sea discharge.

On the issue of nuclear contaminated water disposal, Japan should face the reasonable concerns of the international community and, with a responsible attitude towards the global marine environment and public health, engage in full and meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including neighboring countries. Japan's continued strong push to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea will only provoke stronger opposition.