after a year of perseverance, why did japan compromise?
2024-09-22
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on september 20, the website of the ministry of foreign affairs released the important news that china and japan have reached a consensus on the discharge of nuclear contaminated water from the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. the most important and most concerned part of the consensus is that japan accepts long-term international monitoring of nuclear contaminated water and independent sampling by china and other stakeholders.
the experts interviewed told changan street governor (wechat id: capitalnews) that japan has been discharging nuclear contaminated water for more than a year. so far, monitoring data shows that aquatic products are not contaminated by radioactivity. after reaching a consensus, especially after china's independent sampling and monitoring, it is necessary to pay attention to the monitoring data released by the japanese government and the data independently monitored by china. judging whether aquatic products are safe mainly depends on these monitoring results. if the results are qualified, the safety of aquatic products is guaranteed.
it’s a new beginning
governor: what do you think of these four points of consensus? does participating in emission monitoring mean that china has acquiesced to japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea?
xiang haoyu (distinguished fellow, institute of asia-pacific studies, china institute of international studies）：the consensus reached this time was achieved after long, intensive and arduous consultations between the diplomatic departments of china and japan. it is the result of china's adherence to principles and unremitting struggle, and it also reflects the pragmatism and flexibility of china's diplomacy. the consensus reached does not mean that china has changed its position of firmly opposing japan's discharge into the sea. on the contrary, it is a new beginning, which will help to put japan's discharge into the sea under the track of effective international supervision. through the participation of stakeholders, more effective regulation and constraints on japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater into the sea will help relevant countries better protect the lives and health of the people and the marine ecological environment.
the next step is to focus on implementation. the japanese side should earnestly abide by the consensus, allow professionals and scientists from all stakeholders to participate, establish a long-term and effective international monitoring arrangement, and allow stakeholders to implement independent sampling and monitoring, including laboratory analysis and comparison. only in this way can we more effectively ensure the safety and transparency of japan's sea discharge operations and avoid negative impacts on the human body and the environment due to japan's sea discharge process.
although the international community and japan have great concerns and doubts about japan's willful discharge of pollutants into the sea, some countries and regions have complex and ambiguous attitudes due to political factors. only china has always clearly stated its opposition and has pushed japan to reach an important compromise through unremitting diplomatic efforts. in this process, china has no selfish motives and is entirely for the protection of the lives, health and ecological environment of the people in the countries and regions along the pacific coast. china's firm position and diplomatic actions reflect the responsibility and commitment of a major country. in the process of implementing the consensus in the future, china will continue to play an active role and play a leading role, especially in earnestly and effectively carrying out china's independent sampling and monitoring, ensuring that the international monitoring arrangements can be effectively implemented, and effectively regulating and constraining japan's process of discharging nuclear contaminated water into the sea.
protesters take part in a rally outside the prime minister's office in tokyo, japan, on august 18, 2023, against the japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear waste water from fukushima. image source: visual china
independent sampling and monitoring can improve data credibility
governor: what is the significance of china and other stakeholders striving to participate in independent sampling monitoring? if stakeholders including china find that the monitoring values are unqualified, how will japan fulfill its international obligations based on consensus?
luo zhiping (director of the institute of nuclear safety, china institute of atomic energy)：the fight for independent sampling and monitoring is of great significance and is a key breakthrough. since japan decided to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea, we have been striving for independent monitoring and sampling opportunities.
previously, china participated in the monitoring work of the international atomic energy agency and other organizations, but it was mainly carried out through consulting materials, observation and data analysis. independent sampling monitoring is independently implemented by a third party (such as china), which can effectively supervise the accuracy of monitoring data and improve the credibility of the data. at the same time, this can also form a more direct supervision of japan's future emission behavior.
if unqualified data is found during the monitoring process, two situations may occur: first, the data near the discharge port is unqualified, and timely corrections can be made, requiring japan to adjust its discharge plan and correct deficiencies; second, if unqualified values are found after sampling and measurement in the surrounding sea areas, the japanese government will be required to stop discharging nuclear contaminated water.
consensus does not mean immediate lifting of the ban
governor: in august last year, japan pushed for the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. china did a lot of work to fight against it, including taking on international moral responsibility, speaking for other countries, and stopping importing japanese aquatic products. in the consensus, china will effectively participate in the long-term international monitoring under the framework of the international atomic energy agency and the implementation of independent sampling and other monitoring activities of participating countries, and then adjust relevant measures based on scientific evidence to gradually resume imports of japanese aquatic products that meet the standards. what was china's original intention to stop importing japanese aquatic products? what are the considerations for gradually resuming the import of aquatic products that meet the standards?
xiang haoyu:the relevant measures taken by china against japanese aquatic products were originally temporary suspensions in accordance with wto rules. after the two sides reached a consensus this time, china will also carefully adjust the relevant measures based on the implementation situation, follow the relevant wto rules, and ensure safety based on scientific facts. this consensus does not mean that china will immediately lift the relevant ban.
of course, this issue is not only of great concern to the japanese side, but also involves the interests of relevant industries in china. therefore, under the premise of ensuring safety, i think the relevant measures will be gradually relaxed, which is in the common interests of both sides. given that this issue is also a major obstacle affecting the current relationship between the two countries, if it can be properly resolved, i believe it will also play a positive role in improving the atmosphere of sino-japanese relations.
governor: how will china ensure that japanese aquatic products entering the chinese market are safe and reliable?
luo zhiping:japan has been discharging nuclear contaminated water for more than a year. so far, monitoring data shows that aquatic products are not contaminated by radioactivity. after reaching a consensus, especially after china's independent sampling and monitoring, attention should be paid to the monitoring data released by the japanese government and the data independently monitored by china. the safety of aquatic products depends mainly on these monitoring results. if the results are qualified, the safety of aquatic products is guaranteed. in addition, domestic customs and regulatory authorities will also conduct comprehensive and systematic monitoring to ensure that aquatic products have systematic and scientific means to measure data from the source to the import. with the improvement of monitoring capabilities and the accumulation of data, we can foresee that imports of japanese aquatic products that meet the standards will gradually resume.
japan compromises under international pressure
governor: in august this year, a japanese government source revealed that japan could not accept china's request for independent sampling because it involved japan's sovereignty and could not guarantee objectivity. why is japan willing to compromise now?
xiang haoyu:the change in japan's attitude was mainly due to the strong pressure from the international community, and china's resolute struggle played an important role. since japan has been determined to start the process of discharging fukushima nuclear wastewater into the sea, china has been clearly expressing its opposition. this is not out of china's selfish interests, but on behalf of the entire international community, urging japan to proceed from human life and health and the marine ecological environment and seriously respond to the concerns of both home and abroad.
the damaged fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant of tokyo electric power company on august 24, 2023. on that day, japan began to discharge nuclear contaminated water from the fukushima nuclear power plant into the pacific ocean despite strong opposition from the public. image source: visual china
the fukushima nuclear leak is one of the most serious nuclear safety accidents in human history, with far-reaching impacts. the follow-up treatment process lasts for decades, and continues to threaten the surrounding environment and ecological security as well as the lives and health of residents. therefore, this is by no means a matter for japan alone. by establishing a long-term international monitoring arrangement and independent sampling and monitoring by stakeholders, the data and assessment results obtained will be more authentic, reliable and effective, which will help improve the safety and controllability of the process of nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea. this will also create a precedent for the international community to cooperate in responding to major nuclear safety accidents. of course, this will also help japan to ease international pressure. for the japanese side, it is actually a decision that conforms to the situation and has more benefits than disadvantages.
