Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed concerns over the recent incident at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, emphasizing the need for prompt and transparent disclosure of information. Following reports that 5.5 tons of water containing radioactive materials leaked from the facility, Wang highlighted the deep-rooted problems in the internal management of Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).
Japan’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea over the next 30 years raises questions about safety and reliability in emission management. Wang urged the Japanese government to ensure transparency and reliability in handling future incidents. The recent leak, estimated to contain 22 billion becquerels of radioactive materials, resulted from an open valve during cleaning work at the absorption tower, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Wang stressed the importance of establishing a long-term effective international monitoring arrangement, emphasizing the necessity for Japan to respond to international concerns responsibly. China called for Japan’s full cooperation in creating independent and effective monitoring systems involving neighboring countries and stakeholders to prevent irreversible consequences.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan echoed concerns, stating that the incident exposed ineffective supervision measures by the Japanese government. The lack of long-term reliability in the nuclear-contaminated water treatment system underscores the need for international supervision, according to the embassy spokesperson.
China will closely monitor the impact of the incident and urged Japan to promptly disclose relevant information, emphasizing the global significance of nuclear-contaminated water disposal. Despite opposition from local fishermen and other countries, Japan initiated the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean in August 2023. TEPCO’s plan for releasing approximately 54,600 tons of nuclear-contaminated water in fiscal year 2024 remains a subject of concern.