Japan's Decision to Discharge Fukushima Nuclear Plant Contaminated Water Provokes China

The Most Wrong Decision in the World Severely Criticized... Lawsuits with South Korea and Neighboring Countries
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[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China expressed concerns over Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean and raised the possibility of legal action.

On the 13th, Chinese state media including the official Xinhua News Agency reported with breaking news that the Japanese government decided to release a large amount of radioactive contaminated water generated from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident into the sea, showing great interest.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

China Central Television (CCTV) expressed concern, saying "Japan is trying to discharge contaminated water," while Global Times criticized, "Japan has made the most improper decision in the world." Chinese media reported that Japan's decision to discharge Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water poses a threat to the ocean and life for centuries and has sparked strong opposition from neighboring countries such as China and South Korea.

These media outlets added, "Concerns are high not only among Japanese fishermen and consumers but also in neighboring countries such as South Korea and China," and reported that "experts and environmental organizations have demanded that the Japanese government be transparent and cautious in the ocean discharge of nuclear contaminated water."

Global Times pointed out, "Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water is an extremely irresponsible act, but most Western media remain silent about Japan's decision that will affect the health of hundreds of millions of people."

Zhu Zhenzhen, former vice president of Guangdong Ocean University, said, "China is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," and added, "China can file a lawsuit against the Japanese government together with neighboring countries to demand the withdrawal of the decision or compensation."

Da Zegang, director of the Northeast Asia Research Institute at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, argued, "The Japanese government cannot delay the decision to discharge nuclear contaminated water any longer because it considers this the right timing to minimize the impact on key regime issues such as the upcoming general election and the Tokyo Olympics."

Global Times, citing Chinese experts, warned that if the Japanese government discharges Fukushima nuclear contaminated water, imports of Japanese seafood by various countries will be suspended and foreign visits to Japan will decrease, causing serious damage to the Chinese economy.