Japan Releases Radioactive Fukushima Water Into Sea, Triggers Protests in China and South Korea. Japan on Thursday 24/8/2023 began releasing treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move has been met with controversy, prompting China to quickly announce a comprehensive ban on all seafood imports from Japan. Power plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Tepco) said the discharge began at 1:03 p.m. local time and had not identified any abnormalities in the seawater pump or nearby facilities. However, China on Thursday reiterated its rejection of the plan and said the Japanese government had yet to prove the legitimacy of the disposal of the water. The Japanese side must not cause secondary harm to local people and even the world community because of its own selfish interests China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
Tokyo in turn criticized China for spreading “scientifically unfounded claims.”
They stated that the release of the water was safe, and noted that the International. Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had also concluded that its impact on humans and the environment was negligible. The Fukushima Daiichi power plant was destroyed in March 2011 after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake generated.
powerful tsunami waves that caused the destruction of three of its reactors. Japanese fishing groups, which have suffered years of reputational damage from radiation fears, have long opposed the plan. Concerns that this will lead to a loss of exports to key markets appear to be due to China’s indefinite ban.
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The Japanese fishing community felt even more anxious when they
witnessed this moment despite assurances from the government, the head of the Japan Fisheries Cooperative said in a statement. Japan exported about USD 600 million worth of aquatic products to. China in 2022, making it the largest market for Japanese exports, and Hong Kong came second. Sales to China and Hong Kong account for 42% of all Japanese maritime exports by 2022, according to government data.