China has rejected Japan's proposal to join an international verification framework aimed at assessing the results of radiation level monitoring in treated water being released into the sea from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Reuters reported on September 5. The rejection comes as China remains staunchly opposed to the ocean discharge, having banned all seafood imports from Japan in late August, citing concerns over "nuclear contamination." Despite Japan's repeated efforts to engage in a science-based dialogue, China has ignored these proposals.
Fukushima water discharge
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, crippled by a tsunami in 2011, has since been grappling with the problem of radioactive water storage. To alleviate this issue, Japan released treated water into the Pacific Ocean after removing most radionuclides, except tritium.
Japan proposed the establishment of an international verification framework that would involve the comparison, analysis, and evaluation of monitoring results conducted by both the Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on seawater off Fukushima Prefecture. The framework aims to ensure objectivity in evaluating the safety of the released water.
Key players
China: China has vehemently opposed the ocean discharge and banned seafood imports from Japan over concerns of nuclear contamination. Beijing has also consistently rejected Japan's requests to participate in the international verification framework, arguing that it does not guarantee independent analysis of the released water.
Japan: Japan, as the operator of the Fukushima plant, is keen to demonstrate the safety of its water release plan. Japanese officials have sought international cooperation through the framework to ensure transparency and credibility in monitoring the discharged water.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA plays a central role in the proposed framework. It is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the monitoring and assessment of the treated water's safety. The IAEA is a respected international organization with expertise in nuclear matters.
The framework currently includes research institutions from the United States, France, Switzerland, and South Korea. These countries have expressed their commitment to objective and science-based assessments.
China's refusal to join the international framework appears to stem from its fundamental opposition to the ocean discharge. By participating in the framework, China might perceive itself as endorsing a decision it strongly disagrees with. Experts have emphasized that tritium, the remaining radioactive substance in the treated water, is less harmful to human health than other radioactive materials and emits weak radiation. The concentration of tritium in the released water is well below Japanese safety standards and consistent with global practices at nuclear power plants.
The International Atomic Energy Agency notes that nuclear power plants worldwide routinely release treated water containing low concentrations of tritium and other radionuclides into the environment as part of normal operations. Japan's approach aligns with international norms in this regard.
Earlier Daryo reported that Japan has vehemently denounced China's prohibition of Japanese seafood in response to the Fukushima nuclear plant's treated water release, deeming the action as "completely unacceptable." The Japanese government formally expressed its grievances to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on September 4, further escalating an ongoing trade dispute that commenced with China's suspension of Japanese aquatic imports the previous month.
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