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As I see it | Fukushima water release: why Japan ignoring safety concerns and going ahead with discharge plan could hit its trustworthiness
- Disregarding the valid concerns of its neighbours could undo years of goodwill Tokyo earned through its contribution to global peace and governance
- Conflicting remarks by the IAEA chief, who approved Japan’s plan to dump the nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, have also added fuel to the fire
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The inconsistent comments made by the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief about Japan’s impending release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean is in itself baffling.
But even more perplexing is the willingness of Tokyo to abandon the responsible and positive global image it has built up over the decades by discharging contaminated water from one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters into the global commons.
Last week, International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi said the body had concluded that Japan’s plan was consistent with safety standards and global industry.
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A few days later, Grossi said that one or two of the team of international experts behind the assessment may have expressed concerns.
However, he quickly distanced himself from the remark and maintained that there was no internal disagreement on the IAEA report, adding that his earlier interview where he “hinted” at discord among the team was “misinterpreted.”
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How so? There was no further explanation.
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