Japan announced on Monday that it has been receiving numerous harassment phone calls, believed to be originating from China, following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese embassy in Tokyo also reported receiving nuisance calls from Japan.
The water discharge, which began on Thursday, is a crucial step in the decommissioning process for the Fukushima plant. This plant suffered triple meltdowns after being struck by a tsunami in 2011, making it the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl 25 years earlier.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed his concern over these harassment phone calls, stating that they were “extremely regrettable.” Japan’s vice foreign minister, Masataka Okano, also summoned the Chinese ambassador in response to the calls.
The Chinese foreign ministry claimed to be unaware of the situation when questioned about the harassment accusations. However, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo released a statement condemning the nuisance calls received at the embassy and consulates. The ambassador, Wu Jianghao, stated that these calls have interfered with the normal operations of the embassy and consulates.
In response to the harassment calls occurring at Japanese facilities in China, Japan’s foreign ministry urged the Chinese government to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also requested China to encourage its citizens to act calmly and responsibly, as incidents of stone-throwing were reported at a Japanese school and embassy.
Fukushima city hall and schools have been heavily targeted by these harassment calls, with over 200 calls flooding the phone lines within a day. Other municipalities, hotels, and restaurants have also reported receiving similar calls. A Japanese restaurant chain operator in Tokyo has even reported frequent calls from Chinese speakers.
In China, an incident involving a thrown rock at a Japanese school in Qingdao was reported by the Consulate-General of Japan. When questioned about this incident and the harassment calls, the Chinese foreign ministry assured that China always prioritizes the safety and rights of foreign nationals within its borders.
Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the operator of the Fukushima plant, has been filtering the contaminated water to remove isotopes, leaving only tritium, a difficult-to-separate radioactive isotope of hydrogen. However, China has imposed a ban on all aquatic products from Japan, stating that Japan has not proven the safety of the water.
Overall, this escalating situation between Japan and China highlights the tensions surrounding the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
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