On September 20, the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the news that China and Japan had reached a consensus on the issue of discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, the most important and most concerned of which was Japan's acceptance of long-term international monitoring of nuclear-contaminated water and independent sampling by China and other interested countries.
Experts interviewed told the governor of Chang'an Street (WeChat ID: Capitalnews) that Japan's nuclear contaminated water discharge has been going on for more than a year, and so far, monitoring data shows that aquatic products are not radioactively contaminated. After reaching a consensus, especially after China's independent sampling and monitoring, it is necessary to pay attention to the monitoring data released by the Japan government and the data independently monitored by China. Judging whether aquatic products are safe or not mainly depends on these monitoring results. If the results are qualified, the safety of aquatic products is guaranteed.
It's a new beginning
Governor: What do you think of the four-point consensus? Does participating in emissions monitoring mean that China acquiesced to Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea?
Xiang Haoyu (Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies): The consensus reached this time was reached by the diplomatic departments of China and Japan after a long period of intensive and arduous consultations, which is the result of China's adherence to principles and unremitting struggle, and also reflects the pragmatism and flexibility of China's diplomacy. The consensus does not mean that China firmly opposes the change in Japan's position on sea discharge, but on the contrary, it is a new beginning, which will help bring Japan's sea discharge operation into the track of effective international supervision. Through the participation of stakeholders, more effective regulation and restraint of Japan's nuclear sewage discharge into the sea will help relevant countries better protect people's lives and health and the marine ecological environment.
The next step is implementation, and the Japanese side should earnestly abide by the consensus, involve professionals and scientists from all stakeholders, and establish a long-term and effective international monitoring arrangement, so that stakeholders can carry out independent sampling and monitoring, including laboratory analysis and comparison, so as to more effectively ensure the safety and transparency of Japan's discharge into the sea and avoid the negative impact of the Japanese discharge process on the human body and the environment.
Although the international community and Japan have great concerns and doubts about Japan's insistence on discharging sewage into the sea, some countries and regions have complex and ambiguous attitudes due to political factors, and only China has always expressed its opposition and pushed Japan to reach an important compromise through unremitting diplomatic efforts. In this process, China has no selfish motives and is solely for the sake of safeguarding the lives and health of the people in the Pacific Rim countries and the ecological environment. In the process of implementing the consensus in the future, China will continue to play an active and leading role, especially to carry out China's independent sampling and monitoring in a serious and effective manner, to ensure the effective implementation of international monitoring arrangements, and to effectively regulate and constrain Japan's process of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea.
Independent sampling and monitoring for greater data confidence
Governor: What is the significance of China and other stakeholders seeking to participate in independent sampling and monitoring? If various stakeholders, including China, find that the monitoring values are not up to standard, how will Japan meet its international obligations according to the consensus?
Luo Zhiping (Director, Institute of Nuclear Safety, China Institute of Atomic Energy): Striving for independent sampling and monitoring is of great significance and is a key breakthrough. Since Japan's decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, we have been fighting for opportunities for independent monitoring and sampling.
Previously, China participated in the monitoring work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and other organizations, but mainly through data review, observation and data analysis. Independent sampling monitoring is carried out independently by a third party (such as the Chinese side), which can effectively monitor the accuracy of the monitoring data and improve the credibility of the data. At the same time, it will also provide more direct monitoring of Japan's future emissions.
If the data is found to be unqualified during the monitoring process, two situations may occur: first, the data near the discharge port is unqualified, and the deviation can be corrected in time, and Japan can be asked to adjust the emission plan and correct the deficiencies; Second, after sampling and measuring in the surrounding waters, the values are found to be unqualified, and the Japan government will be asked to stop the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water.
Consensus does not mean that the ban will be lifted immediately
Governor: In August last year, when Japan forcibly pushed for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, China did a lot of struggle work, including assuming international morality, speaking out for other countries, and stopping the import of Japan aquatic products. In the consensus, after effectively participating in the implementation of long-term international monitoring activities under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and independent sampling by participating countries, China will begin to adjust relevant measures based on scientific evidence and gradually resume the import of aquatic products from Japan that meets the regulations. What was China's original intention in stopping imports of Japan aquatic products? What are the considerations for the gradual resumption of imports of aquatic products that comply with the regulations?
Xiang Haoyu: The relevant measures taken by the Chinese side on Japan's aquatic products were originally temporarily suspended in accordance with WTO rules. After the two sides reach a consensus this time, the Chinese side will prudently adjust the relevant measures in accordance with the implementation of the next step, abide by the relevant WTO rules, take scientific facts as the basis, and ensure security as the premise.
Of course, this issue is not only of great concern to the Japanese side, but in fact also involves the interests of China's own related industries. Therefore, on the premise of ensuring security, I think that the relevant measures will be gradually relaxed, which is in the common interest of both sides. In view of the fact that this issue is also a major obstacle affecting the relations between the two countries at present, if it can be properly resolved, it is believed that it will also play a positive role in improving the atmosphere of Sino-Japanese relations.
Governor: How will China ensure the safety and reliability of Japan's seafood products entering the Chinese market?
Luo Zhiping: Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water has been going on for more than a year, and so far, monitoring data shows that aquatic products are not contaminated by radioactivity. After reaching a consensus, especially after China's independent sampling and monitoring, it is necessary to pay attention to the monitoring data released by the Japan government and the data independently monitored by China. Judging whether aquatic products are safe or not mainly depends on these monitoring results. If the results are qualified, the safety of aquatic products is guaranteed. In addition, the domestic customs and regulatory departments will also carry out comprehensive and systematic monitoring to ensure that aquatic products have systematic and scientific means to measure data from source to import. With the improvement of monitoring capacity and the accumulation of data, we can foresee that the import of aquatic products that meet the standards in Japan will gradually recover.
Japan made compromises under international pressure
Governor: In August this year, a Japanese government source revealed that the Japanese side could not accept China's request for independent sampling because it involved Japan's sovereignty and could not guarantee objectivity. Why is Japan willing to compromise today?
Xiang Haoyu: The change in Japan's attitude is mainly due to strong pressure from the international community, in which China's resolute struggle has played an important role. Since Japan insisted on starting the process of discharging Fukushima nuclear sewage into the sea, China has always expressed its opposition in a clear and unequivocal manner, not out of China's selfish interests, but on behalf of the entire international community, urging Japan to seriously respond to domestic and foreign concerns and demands based on human life and health and the marine ecological environment.
Tokyo Electric Power Company's damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on August 24, 2023. On the same day, despite strong public opposition, Japan began discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Source: Visual China
The Fukushima nuclear accident is one of the most serious nuclear safety accidents in human history, with far-reaching consequences, and the follow-up process has lasted for decades, continuing to pose a threat to the surrounding environment and ecological safety, as well as the lives and health of residents, so this is by no means a matter for Japan alone. Through the establishment of long-term international monitoring arrangements and independent sampling and monitoring by stakeholders, the data and assessment results obtained will be more authentic, reliable and valid, which will help improve the safety and controllability of the process of discharging nuclear sewage into the sea, which will also set a precedent for international cooperation in responding to major nuclear safety accidents, and of course, this will also help Japan relieve international pressure. As far as the Japanese side is concerned, it is actually a decision to adapt to the situation and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.