Who is hyping up that only China opposes Japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater?

On the 24th, Japan launched its nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea, taking the risk of global misconduct.

Faced with the nuclear wastewater injected into the ocean from its source and the many uncertainties of the future, the public opinion field is filled with indignation and helplessness: "Is there no way for the international community to use 'hooligans and scoundrels'?"

At the same time, a group of "floor scrubbers" have once again taken on a rhythm on social media, either under the guise of popular science, preaching that Japan's nuclear wastewater is quite safe, deliberately confusing the relationship between nuclear wastewater and the normal discharge of nuclear wastewater from nuclear power plants, or using bizarre methods to suggest that the Chinese government refuses Nissan's seafood "making a big deal out of a molehill", saying that "only China in the world opposes Japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater".

Japan is immoral and unjust, causing harm to the world. How could it be that Japan's wrongdoing is justified, but instead, China has "not emphasized science"?

Let's take a look first. Is it really only China that opposes, protests, and berates the Japanese government for discharging nuclear wastewater?

In fact, the Japanese people have always been the most fiercely opposed to the Japanese government's decision to discharge nuclear wastewater. Almost all opposition parties have expressed clear opposition to this, while the performance of the National Fisheries Association of Japan is even more intense. It can be said that in Japan, the decision to discharge the sea has always lacked public support. As the deadline approaches, the voices of opposition and questioning from the Japanese public, experts, scholars, and media have become stronger. On August 22nd, Japanese people protested against the discharge of nuclear wastewater into the sea outside the Prime Minister's residence; On August 24th, Japanese people gathered in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company holding slogans such as "No Polluted Water Discharged into the Sea"

The unethical actions of the Japanese government have been the first to affect South Korea. Although the Yoon Seok yeol government has shown an unexpected "pro Japanese" attitude since taking office, even so, South Korean Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Cho Seung hwan, bluntly stated that "the South Korean government has never expressed its support" and helplessly stated that "South Korea has no other choice.". But it is obvious that the South Korean people have not accepted their fate like the government. The protests from opposition parties and civic groups around the country have always been high. On the day of Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea, dozens of South Korean people directly entered the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to protest.

"Like many countries in Asia, we strongly oppose Japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific, which will pollute our abundant marine resources and cause widespread disasters to the Philippine fishing industry," said Ronell, spokesperson for the national fisheries non-governmental organization in the Philippines

Pull the timeline a little longer. In January of this year, 18 Pacific island countries that had been affected by nuclear pollution due to US nuclear weapon tests issued a joint statement urging Japan to "store or dump nuclear wastewater on its own soil instead of discharging it into the Pacific.".

In June of this year, then Acting Prime Minister of Fiji, Kamikamika, questioned, "There is a question that must be asked: if the nuclear wastewater treated by Alps is so safe, why doesn't Japan reuse it? For example, in Japan's domestic manufacturing and agricultural production?"

In order to support their argument of "washing the floor", some people particularly like to talk things out of the United States and Europe. The implication is that although Asia's neighbors are full of criticism, developed countries like the United States and Europe have higher living standards and attach more importance to health and safety. They all think it's okay. What else do you have to shout about?

It can be seen that the US government does not object verbally, and even politicians openly advocate for Japan, but their bodies are very honest. According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the United States was the country that reduced imports of Japanese agriculture, forestry, and aquatic products the most in the first half of this year. The three main food sources that were reduced were all located in areas affected by nuclear wastewater discharge.

As for European countries, firstly, they are relatively far from Japan, and secondly, they are hesitant to speak up due to the attitude of the United States. However, even so, at this year's G7 Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministers Meeting, when Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Yasuhiro Nishimura, claimed that "Japan's open and transparent actions based on scientific evidence" were "welcomed" by various countries, the German Environment Minister rebutted it in person, "We do not welcome the discharge of nuclear wastewater into the ocean.".

In addition, there is considerable opposition from the scientific community and the public in Europe and America. Professor and marine biologist Robert Richmond from the University of Hawaii told the BBC with concern, "We see insufficient radiology and ecological impact assessment..." The Helmholtz Center for Marine Research in Germany warned that radioactive materials could spread to half of the Pacific Ocean within 57 days; In 10 years, it will pollute global waters

After all, what is the true attitude of the international community towards Japan's use of the ocean as a sewer?

Firstly, many countries, including China, have expressed clear opposition, including government officials, experts in the field, ordinary people, and civil society organizations. The International Data and Public Opinion Research Center of the "the Belt and Road" Research Institute of Hainan University found that only 7% of the international community supported the Japanese government's opinion on the discharge of Fukushima nuclear sewage.

Secondly, the United States has adopted a policy of condoning, tacitly approving, or watching the situation from the shore in response to its actions of discharging pollutants into the sea. However, in more practical foreign trade exchanges, it has directly reduced imports of seafood from Japan, demonstrating its consistent "double standards".

Thirdly, the United States, relying on its advantage in international public opinion, has created a huge information barrier, which has relatively marginalized the Western world's opposition to nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea. At the same time, it vigorously portrays China's opposition to this issue, in order to use this opportunity to label China as a so-called "geopolitical tug of war". For example, Voice of America even labeled the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's statement on this matter as "wrong" in a factual verification video, stating that "China's criticism of Japan's Fukushima nuclear sewage discharge plan is not fair", with an impatient and unpleasant expression.

However, in the face of all this, some people in China are not indifferent, pretending to be blind and complacent, beautifying those who are harmed, smearing those who are harmed, and striving to create the illusion of "only China opposes", denying legitimate defense and reasonable countermeasures. What are their intentions?

Of course, netizens who are familiar with their tone can easily notice that this group of people's "cleaning up" actions are not just starting today.

Take a look at some social media platforms in China, where topics such as "Why does Japan discharge such a large amount of nuclear wastewater? It seems that only China is protesting?" have already been circulating for several rounds. Various articles, answers, and often presenting a pile of data from unknown sources, as well as obscure English papers, can be quite confusing. But after carefully reviewing the accounts of those "answerers", it seems that one of the main things they have been doing for a long time is to "whitewash" Japan's nuclear wastewater. Regarding this, some netizens sharply asked: Are you "professional" or "full-time"?

According to a survey by Japanese media, the fund established by the Japanese government earlier to subsidize the fishing industry due to damage caused by sea discharge has actually been spent on public relations and publicity. Famous Japanese advertising companies, media, and travel agencies have all received a promotion project to promote public understanding of the safety of water treatment at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The Japanese government even launched a mascot for the radioactive substance "tritium" in nuclear wastewater in an attempt to create a sense of familiarity among the public, but it was ultimately overturned. Due to a large number of protests and complaints from the public, the poster and video of the terrifying mascot for a one-day tour were forced to be taken down.

Public reports show that in order to create momentum for the discharge of nuclear wastewater into the sea, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formulated a strengthened response and dissemination policy, and has allocated 70 billion yen to specifically strengthen the so-called "false information" about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant's nuclear wastewater on social media and other platforms. According to the nuclear wastewater treatment report released by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in February 2020, this "public relations budget" is almost 20 times the budget for discharging nuclear wastewater into the sea.

It is not difficult to imagine why some people continue to cheer for the discharge of nuclear wastewater into the sea, even if they have no money to treat it and have money for internal and external public relations. However, sometimes the force is too strong and the posture is exaggerated. For example, a blogger claims that Fukushima nuclear wastewater is safer than the nuclear wastewater discharged from Daya Bay and can't wait to have a drink. Just don't know, does the PR fee given by the "owner" include this travel fee?

Some people may ask, since Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea is a global disaster, are Japan and those who condone Japan's actions not afraid to "lift a stone and hit their own feet"?

This is a very interesting question, and it may also be an important reason why Japan is not afraid of "backlash", that is, the harm of nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea will not be immediately reflected, and the harm is not immediately fatal. This kind of harm cannot even be measured in years, but is a cross generational problem.

Compared to that, the immediate benefits that can be obtained are more tangible.

"After my death, where will the floods flood?" Such profit calculations are despicable and dangerous, at the cost of the lives and health of future generations, and at the risk of overdrawing the future of human civilization.

If the Japanese government's unilateral actions are to be nailed to the pillar of shame in history; So some self proclaimed "scientific" and "rational" "floor scrubbers" disrupt the audience, distort black and white, and have equally ugly faces.

After all, "No matter how you wash it, it's still a dirty thing."

Comic author: @ Wuhe Qilin