China criticises Japan's plans for nuclear waste

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has denounced a Japanese plan to dump radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean on the twelfth anniversary of the Fukushima disaster. Beijing wants Tokyo to seek the permission of surrounding countries before going ahead, as the disposal of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water impacts the global marine environment and public health. South Korea has also objected to the scheme, as have a number of small Pacific Island nations and Japanese fishing communities. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, releasing large quantities of contaminated water and prompting mass evacuations from areas along Japan's east coast. The Tokyo Electric Power Company, which manages the plant, has pumped water into radioactive fuel debris to prevent it from overheating.

The company maintains that the treatment process removes all but trace radioactive substances from the water, and with space in the tanks running out, the government confirmed in January that it would begin emptying the tanks into the sea in spring or summer. The Fukushima disaster prompted the Japanese government to begin phasing out nuclear power in favor of renewables and natural gas, around 10% of which Japan imported from Russia.