Safety stressed in resumption of Japan's seafood imports

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday that the final resumption of Japanese aquatic product imports should be based on a series of scientific data and effective measures taken by Japan to ensure the quality and safety of fishery products exported to China.

The independent sampling and testing of seawater near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is just one step toward Japan fulfilling its commitments, Mao told a regular news conference.

Chinese research institutions recently completed the first independent testing and analysis of seawater collected near Fukushima following Japan's unilateral decision to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean on Aug 24, 2023.

The tests detected no abnormalities in hazardous elements such as tritium, cesium-137, and strontium-90, according to the China Atomic Energy Authority, or CAEA.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's laboratory analysis and comparison activities are still ongoing, and the test data from laboratories in various countries will be released later, the CAEA said on Thursday.

Emphasizing that the results of this independent sampling and testing only reflect the radiological levels of the marine environment "at a specific time and location", the CAEA said China would keep working with the international community and relevant professional organizations to make every effort to avoid the negative impacts of the ocean discharge on human health and the environment, and prevent irreversible consequences resulting from the discharge.

Mao, the spokeswoman, emphasized that the results of a single test are insufficient to verify the long-term safety of the discharge and reiterated that China's opposition to the ocean discharge remains unchanged.

"Japan's unilateral ocean discharge disregards the concerns of neighboring countries and the international community," Mao said. "Such actions lack legitimacy and reasonableness."

Japan announced in September its support for a long-term international monitoring arrangement under the IAEA framework, which would allow stakeholders, including China, to conduct independent sampling and monitoring as well as inter-laboratory comparisons.

"China will work with the international community to ensure strict oversight of the discharge and continue independent sampling and monitoring," Mao said.

As the Chinese government has always put people first and remains committed to safeguarding food safety, Mao said China will maintain a scientific approach regarding the resumption of Japanese seafood imports.

Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies' Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, cautioned that a single test cannot draw a conclusion and the potential risks of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water, some of which may exceed current scientific understanding.

He called on Japan to prioritize ecological and public health, address stakeholders' concerns, and enhance transparency to build international trust.

"To win the confidence of the global community, Japan must strengthen oversight of discharge operations, ensure the safety of related equipment and processes, and improve information sharing," he added.