ISLAMABAD: China on Tuesday urged Japan to revoke its wrong decision to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea.
Japan did not adequately consult with the international community, particularly stakeholders, regarding its ocean discharge plan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a regular news conference.
Japan will begin discharging the nuclear-contaminated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea on August 24, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday.
Noting that Japan is extremely selfish and irresponsible in transferring the risk of nuclear contamination to the world and putting its own interests above the long-term well-being of all humankind, Wang said China is seriously concerned about and strongly opposes this move and has made solemn representations to the Japanese side.
The Japanese side has failed to address the major concerns of the international community about the long-term reliability of nuclear-contaminated water purification devices, the authenticity and accuracy of nuclear-contaminated water data, and the effectiveness of monitoring arrangement, he noted.
The ocean is the common property of all mankind, he said, adding that Japan’s push for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is unjustified, unreasonable and unnecessary.
Regrettably, the Japanese side has turned a deaf ear to international concerns, and makes every effort to create an illusion that the discharge plan is safe and harmless, and even made groundless accusations on neighbouring countries which expressed legitimate concerns, he said.
Japan’s actions have triggered strong indignation from the neighbouring countries and the Japanese people, Wang said.
China strongly urges the Japanese side to communicate with neighbouring countries in a candid manner, dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a responsible way, and accept strict international supervision, he said.
China will take all necessary measures to safeguard the marine environment, food safety and people’s health, the spokesperson said.
