Japan's Statement "Contaminated Water Is Safe" Met with China's Response: "Then Drink It and Talk Again"

The photo shows Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga inspecting the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on September 26 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] China demanded that the Japanese government, which decided to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, should not unilaterally release the contaminated water.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded at a regular briefing on the 14th to criticism that some Japanese politicians said it was safe to drink the contaminated water by saying, "Then drink that water and talk again." This was a criticism of Taro Aso, Japan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, who said the day before that "even if you drink that water," referring to contaminated water containing the radioactive substance tritium, "nothing will happen."

Spokesperson Zhao urged Japan to clearly recognize its responsibility and fulfill its international obligations. He also emphasized, "Japan must not unilaterally discharge contaminated water before reaching consensus with related countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

He said, "The ocean is not Japan's trash bin, and the Pacific Ocean is not Japan's sewer," adding, "Japan must not make the whole world bear the damage."

Spokesperson Zhao also criticized the United States, which supported Japan. He accused the U.S. of a double standard by saying it values environmental issues but supports Japan's discharge of contaminated water, stating, "Just because the U.S. permits it does not mean the international community has permitted it."