Public sceptical over safety assurances after North Korea nuclear test
Mainland internet users react with scepticism to assurances from environmental authorities about North Korea's latest nuclear detonation
As northern China choked in lingering smog last month, residents hoped for strong winds to sweep the filth away.
Now they have another reason to wish for a strong breeze: to send potential radiation from North Korea's nuclear test this week away to the southeast.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Wednesday it had increased radiation monitoring in northeastern China following Tuesday's nuclear test and had found no immediate abnormalities. But even if there were any, it said, it would affect only Japan and South Korea.
"The evaluation … based on weather forecasts from the National Meteorological Centre shows that even if radiation is released, it will move southeast, and won't impact China at this stage," the ministry said on Wednesday in a statement accompanied by a diagram showing possible radiation patterns passing across Japan.
Mainland internet users, however, were sceptical.
"Why do I feel so pathetic to be a Chinese?" one microblogger wrote. "There is no sense of security or respect. And [you] have to face endless hurt, humiliation and deceit - all by your own people. The nuclear test is only kilometres away [from Chinese territory]. While the US, Japan and South Korea all said their security was threatened, the ministry said there is nothing to worry about."