Japan urged to stop dumping Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water

(ECNS) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has urged Japan to stop the wrongdoing of dumping Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson, made the appeal at a press conference when asked her comment on Tokyo Electric Power Company's decision to start dumping the fourth batch of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean on Wednesday. 

The discharge is expected to last until March 17 and reach nearly 7,800 metric tons.

Despite international concern and opposition, Japan has dumped over 23,000 tonnes of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, spreading the risk of contamination worldwide, which is against the international law and a seriously irresponsible move, so China firmly opposes it, said Mao.

Recent incidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station where nuclear-contaminated water was splashed onto workers and leaked from the purification system spotlight TEPCO’s management deficiency and inadequate government oversight.

Japan’s claim that the discharge is “safe” and “reliable” is not convincing, she said.

Mao noted that the ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water impacts the health of all humanity, the global marine environment, and the international public interest.

"Japan needs to take seriously domestic and international concerns and handle the discharge properly with a responsible and constructive attitude. China urges Japan to provide full cooperation in setting up an independent international monitoring arrangement that remains effective in the long haul and has the substantive participation of Japan’s neighboring countries and other stakeholders, so as to avoid irrevocable consequences stemming from the ocean discharge," she said.