Japan has initiated the fifth round of releasing nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. This discharge, managed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), marks the first round in fiscal 2024, with approximately 7,800 tonnes of wastewater, containing tritium, set to be released until May 7.
The decision has sparked significant opposition from local fishermen and residents, who fear the environmental impact on their livelihoods and health. Additionally, the international community has voiced strong concerns, with China leading the charge against Japan's actions.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian condemned the move, labeling it as extremely irresponsible and posing a global risk. Lin emphasized that the discharge overlooks critical issues such as the safety of the action, the reliability of purification equipment, and the effectiveness of long-term monitoring management.
\"The discharge is related to the health of all humanity, the global marine environment, and international public interests. Japan should address legitimate concerns both domestically and internationally and handle them responsibly and constructively,\" Lin stated.
China has called for Japan to collaborate with neighboring countries to establish robust international monitoring systems to mitigate the irreversible consequences of the wastewater discharge. The fishery industry and local residents have been vocal in their opposition, leading to a lawsuit filed by around 150 fishermen and residents from Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures. The number of plaintiffs has since grown to over 360.
Masashi Goto, a member of the Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy, expressed concerns over the environmental impact, stating, \"The act itself of discharging large amounts of radioactive substances into the sea is bad for the environment. If the discharge is unattended, it will lay hidden dangers in the future.\" He criticized the notion that dilution ensures safety, labeling it as ignorance of true environmental risks.
Since August 2023, TEPCO has released a total of approximately 31,200 tonnes of contaminated water in four rounds. Plans for fiscal 2024 include discharging an additional 54,600 tonnes in seven rounds, containing around 14 trillion becquerels of tritium.
Reference(s):
Japan's nuclear-contaminated water discharge irresponsible: MOFA
cgtn.com
