MoFA Warns Japan On Discharge Of Fukishima Water

(MNI) London - The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued strongly worded comments regarding Japan's plans to discharge treated radioactive water from the stricken Fukishima No.1 nuclear power plant into the ocean. States that "China once again urges the Japanese side to stop its plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. If the Japanese side is bent on going its own way, it must bear all the consequences...[MoFA] urges Japan to dispose of the water in a scientific, safe and transparent manner."

• The announcement comes as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) releases a reportstating that the Japanese plan to release the treated water into the sea is "consistent with IAEA Safety Standards." IAEA Director-General States that “the IAEA notes the controlled, gradual discharges of the treated water to the sea, [...] would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment,”
• Chinese MoFA 'Expresses regrets over the 'hasty' release of the IAEA report on Japan's Fukishima nuclear contaminated water discharge proposal.
• The issue of the water discharge has also caused friction between Tokyo and Seoul, and could be used as a wedge to drive the two nations - that have improved relations significantly in recent months - further apart. Only on 3 July, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi urged the two nations to turn back towards Asia, rather than focusing on relations with the West.