Japan and China have come to an agreement to address their disagreements concerning the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean and China’s subsequent ban on Japanese seafood. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that both countries have achieved a certain level of mutual understanding. China will begin working towards easing the import ban and will participate in the expanded monitoring of wastewater discharges from Fukushima Daiichi under the United Nations’ atomic agency’s framework.
The discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which experienced a nuclear meltdown in 2011, commenced on August 24, 2023. In response, China imposed a ban on imports of Japanese seafood, expressing concerns about the impact on the fishing industry and coastal communities in eastern China. The ban has had a significant impact on Japanese seafood exporters to China.
Kishida expressed confidence that China will gradually resume importing Japanese marine products that meet Chinese standards, similar to products from other countries. Although the deal is viewed as a breakthrough by Japanese officials, there is no immediate information on the timeline for the next monitoring visit or the lifting of the ban.
Both countries emphasized the safety of the Japanese water discharges, with Japan insisting on China promptly lifting the ban. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the issue as both political and scientific, highlighting the significance of the bilateral consensus in handling nuclear-contaminated water effectively and safely.
Japan maintains that the discharged water meets international safety standards and is monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, making all past monitoring data publicly available. Japan has criticized China’s seafood ban as unscientific and called for its immediate removal.
In a separate development, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida held discussions with IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi to incorporate Chinese scientists into the multinational monitoring system within the IAEA framework. Grossi affirmed that the wastewater release from Fukushima meets IAEA safety standards and reiterated the agency’s support for enhanced monitoring efforts.
The Fukushima Daiichi plant, damaged during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, has been dealing with meltdowns in its reactors and the accumulation of radioactive water. Tokyo Electric Power Holdings Co., the plant’s operator, is working on decommissioning activities, including the necessity to discharge stored water for safety and operational purposes.
