On 4 March, the IAEA Board of Governors opened its March session at the Vienna International Centre. Ambassador Li Song, China's Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), delivered a speech at the meeting, expounding China's principled position on the issue of Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea, and stressing China's position on strengthening international supervision over Japan.
Li Song said that in disregard of the opposition of neighboring countries and the concern of the international community, Japan has discharged more than 230,000 tons of nuclear-contaminated water was discharged into the sea in the fourth batch last week. No country has ever dared to risk the world's condemnation to impose the risk of nuclear contamination on the world in such a way. The spillover effects caused by the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea are unprecedented, far beyond Japan's territory or jurisdiction, and are by no means a matter for Japan to be the sole preserve of Japan. Japan's discharge into the sea has had a serious impact on the international nuclear security system, and Japan has used the IAEA's endorsement to undermine it, causing serious damage to the credibility of the IAEA.
Li Song pointed out that China's position has always been clear, resolutely opposes Japan's discharge into the sea, and strongly urges Japan to stop the discharge. In response to Japan's insistence on promoting the discharge of the sea, China has taken the lead in advocating strict and effective international supervision of Japan in an attitude of being highly responsible for the marine environment and people's health. It is thanks to the resolute advocacy and sustained efforts of stakeholders represented by China that the IAEA Secretariat has established an international monitoring arrangement for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea. China supports and actively participates in the Secretariat's monitoring work in Fukushima, while maintaining communication with the Japanese side. China's advocacy and support is an important contribution to the international monitoring and monitoring of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea. The substantive participation of China and other stakeholders is an important guarantee for the relevant international monitoring arrangements to be truly rigorous, independent and effective.
Li Song said that in a scientific and responsible manner, the Chinese side has questioned the legitimacy, safety, and potential hazards of bioenrichment in Japan's discharge into the sea, the long-term reliability of Japan's nuclear-contaminated water purification device, the authenticity and accuracy of nuclear-contaminated water data, and the effectiveness of the current monitoring arrangements. TEPCO's long-term dishonesty, chaotic management, and ineffective supervision make Japan's claim that the discharge is "safe and reliable" is not convincing at all. Recently, the impact of Noto on the nuclear power plant, the sputtering of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and the massive leakage of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima purification plant have further confirmed the serious concerns of China and the international community, and fully demonstrated the imperative of strengthening international supervision over Japan.
Li Song stressed that the discharge of nuclear contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea is not only a matter of science, but also a matter of attitude. China urges Japan to take its domestic and international concerns seriously, fully cooperate with the establishment of a truly independent and effective long-term international monitoring arrangement with the substantive participation of its neighbors and other important parties of concern, earnestly address the legitimate concerns of its neighbors, properly dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima, and prevent Japan's actions from harming the global marine environment and human health. China is ready to continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties, support and actively participate in monitoring Japan, continuously strengthen international supervision over Japan, and return clean and safe oceans to the people of all countries.
Author: Editor: Fu Lu Responsible Editor: Fan Jing.
*:Xinhua.