The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the IAEA report by strengthening the inspection and quarantine of imported seafood. Wang Wenbin | International | Seafood
On July 5th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference.
A reporter asked that the International Atomic Energy Agency released a comprehensive assessment report on the disposal of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water yesterday, which has attracted widespread attention from the international community. According to reports, the Japanese government plans to initiate the process of discharging nuclear contaminated water into the sea as early as August this year. Many people in multiple countries have expressed protest and opposition, and multiple departments in China have already expressed their views on this matter. May I ask if the Chinese side has any further comments on this?
Wang Wenbin stated that regarding the report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Atomic Energy Agency, and the National Nuclear Safety Administration have all clarified China's solemn position. The Chinese side's position is based on science and guided by facts. I would like to emphasize once again that institutional reports cannot serve as talismans and passes for Japan's discharge into the sea.
Firstly, the report cannot prove the legitimacy of the Japanese plan to discharge into the sea. The unilateral decision by Japan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea is essentially to minimize its own costs and risks, allowing the world to bear the avoidable risk of nuclear pollution. The report clearly states that the institution did not recommend Japan to adopt a sea discharge plan, nor did it endorse Japan's sea discharge plan.
Secondly, the report does not confer legitimacy on the Japanese plan to discharge into the sea. Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean is suspected of violating international legal obligations such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the London Convention on the Elimination of Waste. Since Japan claims to abide by international law and rules, it should give the international community an explanation.
Thirdly, the report cannot guarantee the safety of Japan's sea discharge plan. The effectiveness and long-term reliability of the Japanese nuclear contaminated water purification device have not been certified by a third party, and there is no evidence to prove the true accuracy of the data on nuclear contaminated water. There is also no evidence to demonstrate the long-term impact of radioactive isotopes in nuclear contaminated water on food safety and human health through biological enrichment effects.
Fourthly, reports cannot guarantee the effectiveness of monitoring arrangements. Tokyo Electric Power Company of Japan has repeatedly concealed and tampered with data on nuclear contaminated water. The monitoring arrangement planned by the organization does not include independent sampling, and Tokyo Electric Power Company data and information are used as monitoring basis. This practice is not advisable. It has been proven that the report did not quell strong opposition to sea discharge both domestically and internationally in Japan. According to the latest poll in Japan, 40% of the population opposes dumping into the sea. A joint survey by Korea Daily and Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan shows that over 80% of South Korean people do not support Japan's sea discharge. Experts and people from Pacific island countries, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa, Peru, and other regions have expressed protests, and the Chinese people are particularly concerned. The relevant departments of the Chinese government will strengthen marine environmental monitoring, strengthen the inspection and quarantine of imported seafood, and ensure public health and food safety.
Wang Wenbin emphasized that the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea is of great international public interest and should not be ambiguous or overlooked. China urges Japan to respect science and facts, and not attempt to use institutional reports as a shield to initiate discharge into the sea. Instead, Japan should faithfully fulfill its international moral and legal obligations, stop forcefully promoting plans to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, and dispose of nuclear contaminated water in a responsible manner.