On March 11, 2011, a nuclear accident of the highest level occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan. Three reactor cores were melted and damaged, releasing a large amount of radioactive materials. The 2011 Fukushima disaster was the deadliest nuclear accident since Chernobyl.
But despite the serious danger posed by potential radioactivity, Japan said it will dump more than a million tons of water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea this year after treating most of the radioactive particles in line with national standards.
A couple of months ago, China’s Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Sun Xiaobo made a statement on the positions of the Chinese government on the Japanese government’s unilateral decision to discharge the contaminated in total disregard of the international concerns.
First, said Sun, we cannot neglect the harm caused by the discharge of the nuclear contaminated water into the ocean. The seawater brought by the tsunami, the cooling water injected into the reactor cores and the groundwater and rainwater that came into contact with the reactor cores were all contaminated, producing a large amount of nuclear contaminated water.
Initial assessment shows that the nuclear contaminated water contains more than 60 radionuclides, including tritium, carbon-14, cobalt-60, strontium-90, iodine-129, etc. The half-life of tritium is about 13 years, and that of carbon-14 is more than 5000 years. There is not yet effective technology to treat many of those radionuclides. Some long-lived radionuclides may spread with the ocean currents and form a bio-concentration effect, which will multiply the total amount of radionuclides in the environment, causing unpredictable harm marine life and human health.
Second, the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima is by no means Japan’s private matter. Until now, the Fukushima nuclear accident has generated more than 1.3 million tons of contaminated water, with about 100 tons being further produced every day. That contaminated water was stored temporarily in over 1,000 storage tanks, which is expected to be discharged into the ocean over a period of 30 years.
According to research by a German marine research institution, within 57 days of the discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water, the radioactive materials will spread to most of the Pacific Ocean and, in 10 years, to waters across the world.
Third, Japan’s decision to discharge the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean is driven by selfish interests. The disposal of nuclear-contaminated water should be decided upon with the greatest prudence, and there is no precedent in discharging nuclear-contaminated water caused by nuclear accidents into the ocean.
Japan initially proposed five ways to dispose of nuclear-contaminated water, including injection into the ground, discharge into the ocean, vapor release, release as hydrogen gas into the atmosphere and underground burial. However, Japan did not conduct a thorough study of the other disposal options except for ocean discharge. Instead, Japan uses limited space as an excuse to stop building new storage tanks and decide to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, transferring the risks to all mankind.
Fourth, Japan has not seriously responded to international concerns and addressed them accordingly. For example, is ocean discharge the best option? If the treated nuclear-contaminated water indeed meets the relevant discharge standards, then why not discharge it domestically? How can it prove the effectiveness and long-term reliability of the nuclear-contaminated water purification devices? Is Japan’s environmental impact assessment report comprehensive and scientific, and can it ensure that there will be no negative impact on the environment?
Japan has yet to provide sufficient scientific explanations on the questions above. China has expressed concerns to Japan, based on the spirit of science and out of the sense of responsibility for the health of her own people, the global marine environment and international public interest.
In February this year, the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) stated that, according to the independent assessment of the PIF Panel of Experts, there is insufficient data to classify the impending discharge by Japan as safe for Pacific people and the ocean’s biodiversity, and Japan only provided limited data and information despite the PIF’s repeated requests. All these facts show that it is time for Japan to face up to the concerns of the international community and provide responsible clarifications.
Sun stated that the Pacific Ocean is not Japan’s sewer for discharging its nuclear-contaminated water. Japan should take an objective and science-based approach, and dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a way that is safe and consistent with international law, international safety standards and good practices. That includes a thorough examination of alternative disposal options other than ocean discharge.
There should be no discharge until all stakeholders and relevant international organisations confirm that such discharge is safe and secure. China again urges Japan to take seriously the legitimate concerns of the international community, earnestly fulfill its international obligations, conduct full consultation with its neighbours, stakeholders and the relevant international institutions, dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, open, transparent and safe manner, place itself under strict international monitoring and take credible steps to protect the marine environment and the health rights and interests of all people.
