This photo taken on March 6, 2023 shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Futabacho, Futabagun of Fukushima prefecture, Japan. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Tokyo needs to explain why it deliberately emphasizes the treatment of tritium while remaining evasive about other radioactive nuclides in relation to the discharge of contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea, China’s Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said on Aug 28.

“Japan claims that these nuclides met national safety standards after treatment, but it is widely known that the Fukushima water contains over 60 types of radioactive nuclides. Many of these nuclides lack effective treatment methods,” Wu said during a meeting with Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masataka Okano, while reiterating China’s firm opposition to the release of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.

Although the contaminated water stored in tanks underwent purification through the so-called Advanced Liquid Processing System, or ALPS, a representative of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, has said that 66 percent of the water has not seen effective removal of radioactive substances other than tritium and has exceeded the discharge standards, Japanese commercial TV network TBS reported on Aug 26

Although the contaminated water stored in tanks underwent purification through the so-called Advanced Liquid Processing System, or ALPS, a representative of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, has said that 66 percent of the water has not seen effective removal of radioactive substances other than tritium and has exceeded the discharge standards, Japanese commercial TV network TBS reported on Aug 26.

Despite strong domestic and international doubts and opposition, Japan proceeded with the ocean discharge plan. This decision poses significant risks and unpredictable hazards to global marine environments and human health, and has caused outrage in the international community. Japan must face the reality, reflect on its actions and immediately halt the discharge, the Chinese ambassador said.

Wu stressed that China’s expression of grave concerns and opposition, based on scientific and factual evidence, is entirely reasonable and justifiable.

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Speaking of Japan’s current monitoring plan, Wu said it is “neither comprehensive nor systematic”, as it fails to monitor all discharged nuclides. Moreover, the monitoring method does not cover a wide range of marine species, and thus cannot fulfill the requirements for long-term assessment of marine ecological impacts.

“Relying solely on Japan’s released monitoring methods and data lacks scientific basis and is not convincing. Most of the data currently released by Japan are sampled, tested and reported by Tokyo Electric Power Company. Considering TEPCO’s history of data manipulation, concealment and falsification, the international community has valid reasons to doubt the authenticity and credibility of its data,” Wu said.

“If Japan is truly confident in the safety, it should actively support the establishment of a long-term international monitoring arrangement that involves full and effective participation from all relevant parties, including independent third-party monitoring conducted by other countries,” he said.

Instead, Japan has placed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the forefront as a shield, claiming that other countries can only participate in monitoring under the framework of IAEA’s leadership and after approval by the agency. However, currently, the IAEA monitoring framework does not involve the participation of other countries or international organizations on-site, and lacks transparency, he said.

People gather to protest the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company's decision to release nuclear-contaminated wastewater in front of the headquarters of the TEPCO in Tokyo, Japan, Aug 24, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

 Takashi Takano, a 72-year-old fisherman in Fukushima Prefecture, told TBS that as the Japanese government and TEPCO continue down the path of releasing nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, his feeling of distrust in them is growing.

“From the beginning, they were set on ocean discharge, progressing without listening to our opinions, leaving us feeling powerless,” Takano said.

During the meeting with Okano, Ambassador Wu also strongly protested against disruptions faced by the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan, stating that the embassy has received a large number of harassing phone calls from within Japan, seriously interfering with the normal operations of the embassy.

China urges Japan to handle this issue in accordance with the law and effectively ensure the safety of the Chinese embassy and consulates, Chinese institutions, companies, citizens and tourists in Japan.

READ MORE: Fukushima water: Japan urged to rethink its plan as concerns mount

The vast majority of countries and people, including many citizens within Japan itself, hold critical and opposing views on the ocean disposal approach, and Japan should not turn a blind eye to this reality, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a news conference in Beijing on Aug 29.

“It is particularly important to emphasize that the issue of releasing nuclear-contaminated water into the sea concerns marine environments and human health. It is not solely Japan’s affair, and it cannot be treated as a matter that can proceed unhindered simply because a few countries may have given political consent,” Wang said.

“Japan’s actions further reveal its prioritization of power over international norms and its disregard for the interests of the international community in favor of its own interests,” he said.

It is noted that while the United States administration has not openly expressed disapproval of Japan’s discharge, Washington has sharply reduced its import of Japanese aquatic and agricultural products so far this year.