Question: Why is it that the Japanese government’s unilateral decision to dump the nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean is unpopular? Embassy spokesperson: For some time, the Japanese side, out of its political agenda, has been ignoring the legitimate security concerns raised by the international community on the basis of science. It has been trying to downplay and cover up the hazards of ocean discharge by strengthening international public relations campaigns and rope other countries into supporting its discharge plan. Such attempts to whitewash its erroneous decision will lead nowhere. Both the Japanese people and the international community have expressed strong concerns and opposition to Japan’s ocean discharge plan. The Japanese public has held many assemblies in protest against the Japanese government. According to a global survey recently conducted by CGTN which attracted the participation of more than 30,000 internet users worldwide within 24 hours, 93% of the participants strongly oppose Japan’s ocean discharge plan. Greenpeace has issued a commentary criticising the Japanese government for violating international law including UNCLOS, noting that the Japanese government has failed to conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment, including the impact of transboundary marine pollution and that Japan is “using the Pacific Ocean as a dumping ground for radioactive contaminated water”. All this clearly shows that the Japanese government’s unilateral decision on ocean discharge, which transfers unpredictable risks to the whole world, has no support whatsoever. China urges Japan to face up to international concerns, earnestly fulfil its international obligations, have thorough and meaningful consultations with stakeholders including its neighbours, ensure the contaminated water is handled in a scientific, open, transparent and safe manner, and fully submit to international oversight. All this is needed to ensure the protection of marine environment and the health interests of people around the world. |
