China: Japan's Embellishments Cannot "Bleach" the Sea Discharge Plan

Mao Ning (Spokesperson and deputy director of information at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China) held a press conference on 20th July, 2023.

Foreign Ministry of China, Img source: Google

　　A reporter asked: Recently, the Japanese government has used occasions such as the NATO Summit, the East Asia Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Ministers' Meeting to justify the plan to discharge Fukushima nuclear contaminated water and signal that it will not delay the start of the discharge this summer. At the same time, the National Federation of Fisheries Associations, Fukushima Prefecture, and Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Associations all expressed that their attitudes against the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water have not changed. What's the spokesperson's comment?

　　Mao Ning: The Japanese government has recently carried out global public relations on the issue of the discharge of Fukushima nuclear polluted water into the sea, trying to use a special fund to silence the Japanese people who oppose the discharge of the sea, in an attempt to use the comprehensive assessment report of the International Atomic Energy Agency as a "passport" and pretend that the discharge is imperative. If nuclear-contaminated water is safe, there is no need to discharge it into the sea, and if it is unsafe, it should not be discharged into the sea.

China's clear stance on sea discharging plan

　　The legitimacy, legitimacy, and safety of Japan's nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan have been questioned internationally. No matter how Japan tries to cover up its mistakes, it will not be able to "whitewash" the sea discharge plan. Protests from neighboring countries one after another and doubts from all walks of life in Japan are clear evidence. Japanese media polls on the 16th showed that more than 80% of the Japanese people believed that the Japanese government’s explanation for the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea was insufficient. Japanese scholars and environmentalists continue to speak out, arguing that the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 has caused the leakage of radioactive substances, and now artificially draining the sea to increase the pollution of radioactive substances is intolerable. The Japanese government’s decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea did not reflect the concerns of the public, especially the fisheries and agricultural practitioners. It is likely that it will violate the previous promise that the discharge will not start without the understanding of relevant parties.

　　I want to emphasize that there is no precedent in the world for discharging water polluted by a nuclear accident into the ocean, and there is no commonly recognized standard. This is a question of science, but also a question of attitude. China urges the Japanese side to face up to the legitimate concerns of the international community and the domestic people, stop forcing the sea discharge plan, conduct full consultations with neighboring countries with a sincere attitude, effectively dispose of nuclear-contaminated water in a responsible manner, and accept strict international supervision.