Japan commenced the 30-year plan to release treated radioactive wastewater into the ocean on Thursday, marking a significant development in the ongoing decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear power plant (UPI, 24 August 2023).
China responded swiftly to Japan’s action by suspending all imports of seafood and sea-bound products from Japan. The move reflects China’s commitment to safeguarding food safety and protecting the health of its consumers. The decision is in line with China’s food safety laws, administrative protocols, and the World Trade Organization’s agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (UPI, 24 August 2023).
This suspension poses a challenge for Japan, given that it is one of China’s major exporters of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. In 2022 alone, Japan’s fish exports to China amounted to $493.4 million (CNBC, 24 August 2023).
The release of treated radioactive water by Japan has long been a matter of concern due to the potential risks to public health and the environment. The water, accumulated over years at the Fukushima plant, consists of contaminated groundwater and cooling water used for the reactors. To address this issue, Japan approved a plan in 2021 to gradually release the wastewater over a 30-year period, using a processing system known as ALPS to remove all harmful substances except for tritium, which poses a relatively weak radiation threat (UPI, 24 August 2023).
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted a thorough assessment of Japan’s plan and concluded that the gradual discharge would have a negligible radiological impact. However, China remains strongly opposed to the decision, asserting that Japan is jeopardizing the global public interest and the health of future generations. South Korea, on the other hand, has shown support for the plan as long as Japan follows the announced measures (UPI, 24 August 2023).
As Japan begins the discharge, it is essential for transparency and open communication to maintain trust and mitigate any potential risks associated with the process. It is a critical moment in the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and all parties involved must work together to ensure the safety of the environment and public health (UPI, 24 August 2023).
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