The Chinese government has been continuously delaying the payment of its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) contributions this year. Analysts suggest this is a sign of protest against the IAEA's judgment that the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan meets safety standards.
On the 23rd, Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun, citing the IAEA, reported that the Chinese government had not paid any of the total 9.7 billion yen (approximately 84.4 billion KRW) in contributions due to the IAEA this year by September, and as of early November, had only paid half of the amount.
In this regard, Western diplomatic sources have analyzed that China, dissatisfied with the Fukushima contaminated water discharge, may be attempting to pressure the IAEA.
China currently holds a strong opposition to Japan's discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima. While Japan refers to it as "treated water," China calls it "nuclear contaminated water" and has imposed a complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood.
Furthermore, China has expressed distrust toward the current Fukushima contaminated water discharge monitoring system involving the IAEA.
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