On January 19, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference.
A reporter asked: We have noticed that in response to the Japanese government's announcement last week that it would discharge Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean in the spring and summer of this year, recently, many groups in Japan and people from many countries have publicly spoken out, criticizing the Japanese government for violating its commitments, Sea row decided to express strong opposition.
What's your comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: We have noticed relevant reports.
The marine environment is related to the overall interests of the international community, and the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is by no means the sole responsibility of Japan.
In disregard of widespread concerns and strong doubts at home and abroad, the Japanese government forced the plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea. This selfish approach will of course cause dissatisfaction and criticism from all walks of life.
The relevant person in charge of the Philippine "Asian Century" Strategic Research Institute stated that Japan's unilateral push to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea runs counter to the practice advocated by international environmental protection laws and regulations.
The person in charge of the South Korean non-governmental environmental protection organization "Environmental Movement United" pointed out that if the nuclear contaminated water is discharged into the sea, it will set a very negative precedent; if Japan is allowed to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea for a long time, will all radioactive materials be safe in the future? Dumped into the sea?
The chief researcher of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanography of the Russian Academy of Sciences believes that the nuclear-contaminated water that Japan intends to discharge into the sea contains a large amount of radioactive substances that cannot be completely filtered by existing technologies, which is seriously harmful.
What is particularly regrettable is that the Japanese government and TEPCO once made promises not to dispose of nuclear-contaminated water that were not understood by the relevant parties, but now they are reneging on their promises and going their own way.
Pune, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, said that the Japanese government promised to maintain communication with Pacific island countries on the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water and provide all independent and verifiable scientific evidence, but it is regrettable that the Japanese government has not cooperated. They intend to do so. Contrary to earlier commitments; countries in the region firmly believe that nuclear-contaminated water should not be discharged into the sea until safety is confirmed by all parties involved.
We urge the Japanese side to respect the legitimate concerns and strong voices of the domestic people and the international community, honor its commitments, dispose of nuclear-contaminated water in a scientific, open, transparent and safe manner, and stop the irresponsible act of forcing nuclear-contaminated water to be discharged into the sea.
(making Yueziyan)
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]