China and Japan Clash Head-On at NPT Meeting Over "Fukushima Contaminated Water" Remarks

China says "Japan must stop discharging nuclear contaminated water"
Japan counters "It is treated water, not contaminated water"

Japan and China, engaged in a tense standoff ahead of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's contaminated water release into the ocean, clashed head-on at an international conference, drawing global attention. As China pressured Japan to halt the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water, Japan countered by calling it treated water rather than contaminated water, signaling that diplomatic tensions between the two countries are likely to deepen.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 1st, Japanese media outlet Nippon TV (Nittere) reported that on the 31st of last month (local time), the Chinese and Japanese delegations debated the issue of contaminated water discharge at the first preparatory committee meeting of the 11th Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held in Vienna, Austria.

First, Shunsuke Takei, Deputy Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, who participated in the meeting, mentioned the peaceful use of nuclear energy, stating, "With nuclear threats from Russia and others making the path toward a world without nuclear weapons more difficult, strengthening the NPT regime will be in the interest of the entire international community."

He added, "Regarding the treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (the Japanese government's term for contaminated water), Japan is making every effort to ensure the safety of its ocean discharge and will not release anything that adversely affects domestic or international health and the environment."

In response, the Chinese side countered by referring to the treated water called by the Japanese government as 'nuclear contaminated water.' The Chinese delegation pointed out, "The Japanese government must address the international community's concerns over the decision to discharge nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant." They further raised their voices, saying, "Japan must halt its plan to release nuclear contaminated water into the ocean."

According to Yomiuri, the Chinese side strongly criticized, "Japan unilaterally decided to discharge nuclear contaminated water and plans to minimize costs by shifting them globally," and reportedly questioned the credibility of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report.

In reply, the Japanese side stated, "What is being discharged is not contaminated water but treated water," adding, "It is managed by experts from the IAEA, China, and South Korea. Japan has been engaging in serious and transparent dialogue with related countries."

The Japanese response continued until the end of the discussion, with the Japanese delegation emphasizing the independence of the IAEA investigation and criticizing China by saying, "Casting doubt without scientific basis is a dangerous act that undermines the authority and credibility of the IAEA."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Japan also immediately expressed regret over the situation. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno held a press conference that morning and, regarding China's designation of the water as 'nuclear contaminated water,' emphasized, "It is not nuclear contaminated water but treated water processed by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) that meets international safety standards," and added, "We will politely explain this to the international community based on scientific evidence."

Earlier, on the 14th, China and Japan confirmed their differing positions on the contaminated water issue during a bilateral meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia. At that time, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi requested Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Communist Party Politburo member, to "respond from a scientific perspective," to which Wang retorted, "There is no precedent worldwide for discharging contaminated water from a nuclear power plant accident into the ocean."

Additionally, China has effectively begun import restrictions by announcing plans to conduct comprehensive radiation inspections on Japanese seafood products.