Since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan in 2011, the treatment of nuclear-contaminated water has been the focus of international attention. Recently, according to the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK), Tokyo Electric Power Company announced that the fourth round of nuclear contaminated water discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will begin in late February 2024, and the total discharge is expected to be 7,800 tons. This news has once again aroused strong concern among our country and the people.
The plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is not only related to the health and ecological environment of the Japanese people, but also poses a huge threat to the marine environment and people's health in neighboring countries and regions. China has always resolutely opposed this plan, because the radioactive materials in the nuclear-contaminated water may cause serious damage to the marine ecological environment and affect the food security of fish and human beings. In addition, there are concerns about regulatory difficulties and potential risks in the process of discharging into the sea.
China has always resolutely defended people's health and ecological environment safety, and has repeatedly called on Japan to fully fulfill its international legal obligations, fully consult with the international community, and carry out the treatment of nuclear-contaminated water transparently and openly. China advocates that Japan should choose a more reliable and safe disposal method on the basis of fully assessing the risk of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, so as to ensure that the pollutants do not cause permanent damage to the environment and human health.
In the face of Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment and other relevant departments have repeatedly spoken out and expressed their solemn position. A spokesman for our country has said that Japan should not start the plan without authorization before fully consulting with neighboring countries and the international community, and without fully assessing and resolving the potential safety hazards of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea that the international community is concerned about.
In order to protect people's health and the safety of the ecological environment, China will continue to pay close attention to the progress of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge plan, and urge Japan to prudently deal with the problem of nuclear contaminated water. At the same time, China will further strengthen cooperation with relevant countries and regions to jointly respond to the challenges brought about by the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, and promote Japan to make more reasonable and responsible decisions.
The issue of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is a matter of global ecological environment and human health, and requires the joint attention and response of the international community. On this issue, China will continue to play its role as a responsible major country, firmly defend people's health and ecological environment security, and work with the international community to safeguard the global marine environment and food security. We hope that Japan** will listen carefully to the call of the international community, re-examine the plan for discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea from the perspective of human well-being and the earth's ecological environment, and make more responsible decisions.