China affirms stance on Fukushima nuclear waste water release in rare ministerial meeting with Japan’s new envoy

Chinese environment minister tells Kenji Kanasugi that Japan should ‘take responsibility’ for nuclear-contaminated water

The diplomat has met relatively few ministers since his arrival in December as Tokyo’s ambassador to Beijing

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Sample bottles taken from treated waste water at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, ahead of one of the discharges which are strongly opposed by China. Photo: EPA

Published: 12:08pm, 21 Feb 2024Updated: 3:08pm, 21 Feb 2024

The Fukushima nuclear plant water releases were raised in one of the first ministerial-level meetings attended by Japan’s new ambassador to China, suggesting the row between the two countries over the issue is likely to continue.

Kenji Kanasugi has met relatively few ministers since he arrived in Beijing in December, but at a meeting with China’s environment minister on Tuesday, he was told that Japan should “take responsibility” for the situation.

According to a readout from the ecology and environment ministry, Huang Runqiu reiterated Beijing’s position on Japan’s release of treated radioactive water into the sea from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

“Japan should dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a responsible manner and cooperate fully with stakeholders like Japan’s neighbouring countries,” Huang told Kanasugi.

He repeated China’s call for “active participation” between Japan and its neighbours “through the establishment of a long-term and effective international monitoring arrangement”.

Huang added that China is willing to promote Sino-Japanese cooperation in the field of green and low-carbon emissions, the readout said, adding that Kanasugi expressed Japan’s willingness to deepen and expand environmental cooperation with China.