[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] On the 13th, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed a welcoming stance, calling Japan's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident into the ocean an international practice.
Japan ranks third in regular budget contributions to the IAEA, following the United States and China. The IAEA's approval of Japan's decision, given Japan's significant influence on the IAEA budget, is interpreted as an expected step.
According to IAEA data, Japan's regular budget contribution rate was 8.24% as of last year, the third highest after the United States (25%) and China (11.5%). Additionally, the fact that the previous Director General before the current Rafael Grossi was Amano Yukiya from Japan also demonstrates the close relationship between Japan and the IAEA.
When Director General Amano passed away in July 2019, the IAEA decided in September of the same year to name an agricultural facility within the laboratory after him, and Japan announced it would donate 1 million euros to the laboratory.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) / Photo by Yonhap News
On that day, Director General Grossi stated in a press release, "We welcome Japan's announcement of the decision on how to handle the treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant," adding, "The treatment method chosen by Japan is technically feasible and also follows international practice."
He praised Japan's decision as a significant event laying the foundation for the continued decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. At the same time, he used terms such as ‘treated water’, ‘controlled water’, or simply ‘water’, as claimed by the Japanese government, instead of the term contaminated water.
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