By RYO AIBARA/ Staff Writer
July 18, 2023 at 18:22 JST
Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura enters the prime minister’s office in Tokyo for a Cabinet meeting on July 18. (Koichi Ueda)
The Japanese government is highlighting China's refusal to have experts from both countries meet to discuss from a scientific standpoint the upcoming discharge of treated contaminated water into the ocean.
Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting on July 18 that the government has “repeatedly made the request” to the Chinese government, but Beijing has remained opposed to the idea.
The International Atomic Energy Agency released a report on July 4 that confirmed the water discharge from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant would meet international safety standards.
The Japanese government is making final preparations to start the release.
Based on the report, it is intensifying its efforts to explain the discharge it plans to begin as early as this summer to nations and officials both domestically and internationally.
But China remains staunchly opposed to the release.
The Hong Kong government said it plans to ban the imports of fishery products from 10 prefectures if Japan releases the treated water.
Nishimura said that the Hong Kong government’s stance is “extremely regrettable.”
On the other hand, the European Union said on July 13 that it will completely lift import restrictions on Japanese food and marine products introduced in response to the 2011 reactor meltdowns at the nuclear plant triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
“This will curb damage to the reputation of the products and contribute to the recovery of the disaster-affected areas,” Nishimura said.
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