China Claims To Protect The Safety Of Japanese Citizens In Accordance With The Law In The Aftermath Of The Radioactive Water Disposal Polemic Into The Sea

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. (Twitter/@MFA_China)

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that his government will continue to protect the safety of foreign nationals including Japan in the country.

This was revealed after the emergence of anti-Japan sentiment in China after the disposal of radioactive water that had been processed from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) into the sea.

"The Chinese government protects and guarantees the safety and interests of foreign nationals in China in accordance with the law," Wang Wenbin said in a statement to the media in Beijing, China.

The anti-Japan sentiment emerged, among others, in the form of annoying phone calls and calls on the internet to boycott Japanese products. A stone was also thrown into the grounds of a Japanese school in Qingdao last Thursday. Another Japanese school in Suzhou was also egged on Friday, no one was injured in the incident.

"I also want to emphasize that despite criticism and strong opposition from the international community, the Japanese government has unilaterally begun to release the water that Fukushima nuclear termination into the sea. Neighboring Japan and the international community have criticized the selfish and highly irresponsible actions, each of which has also taken precautions," said Wang Wenbin.

China, according to Wang Wenbin, urged Japan to take seriously the concerns of all parties.

"Stop disposing of nuclearly contaminated water into the sea, conduct full consultations with neighboring countries and other stakeholders, as well as channel nuclearly-quenched water in a way that is truly responsible," added Wang Wenbin.

China has been, said Wang Wenbin, opposing Japan's decision to dispose of Fukushima nuclearly contaminated water into the sea for spreading the risk of nuclear contamination around the world.

"Recently, the Chinese government has consistently communicated its firm stance to Japan through diplomatic channels and asked Japan to stop imposing plans for nuclear wastewater disposal into the sea. The authorities in China have also taken steps to monitor the risk of radioactive contamination to marine and marine products to ensure the health and safety of the Chinese people," Wang Wenbin explained.

It was reported that some Chinese social media users also urged their followers to call for protests against Japan and boycott Japanese products. The call prompted increased security around Japanese offices in China.

Japan has ignored refusal from local fishing communities and China by starting to dump nuclear waste water from PLTN Fukushima on August 24, 2023.

In the first phase, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) operator will dilute about 7,800 tons of processed water with seawater, and the dilute water will be issued for 17 consecutive days.

TEPCO has filled the facility, called a vertical disposal axis, with water that has been processed and diluted. Each ton of treated water is mixed with about 1,200 tons of seawater.

There are about 1.3 million tons of processed water in the TEPCO complex. The operator ran out of storage capacity, forcing Japan to throw the water into the sea.