Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin held a regular press conference on April 4.
A reporter asked: According to reports, the "Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Sewage Countermeasures Group," organized by the Democratic Party of Korea, the largest opposition party in the ROK, recently visited Japan and made clear to the Japanese society its position of deep concern over the discharge of Fukushima's nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. Many Japanese people also held protest rallies against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, saying that such practices will cause health risks to people in Japan and the world. What is China's comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant reports. China has repeatedly expressed its grave concern and opposition to the Japanese Government's decision to discharge the contaminated water from Fukushima.
The contaminated water in Fukushima is in direct contact with the reactor core melted in the Fukushima nuclear accident, containing more than 60 radionuclides, many of which do not have effective treatment technology, and some long-lived nuclides may spread with ocean currents and form a bioconcentration effect, which will additionally increase the total amount of radionuclides in the environment, causing unpredictable harm to the marine environment and human health.
According to general international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Japan is obliged to take all measures to avoid environmental pollution, to notify and fully consult with potentially affected countries, to assess and monitor environmental impacts, to take preventive measures to ensure that risks are minimized, to ensure transparency of information, and to carry out international cooperation.
However, Japan's attempt to shirk its responsibilities and evade its obligations under various pretexts, without fully studying and demonstrating various disposal options, decided to dump the nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean out of its own selfish interests.
We once again urge Japan to face up to the legitimate concerns of the international community and its own people, and to dispose of nuclear-contaminated water in a safe manner consistent with international obligations, international safety standards and international good practices, including by fully studying and demonstrating disposal options other than discharge into the sea, so as to avoid transferring unpredictable risks to the international community. Until full consultation and agreement with neighboring countries and other stakeholders and relevant international institutions, Japan shall not initiate the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea without authorization. (Produced by Sui Zhiyuan)
Responsible Editor: [Li Ji]