China organizes marine radiation environment monitoring in jurisdictional waters following Japan's nuclear-contaminated water dumping plan

(ECNS) -- China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment is organizing the 2023 annual marine radiation environment monitoring in jurisdictional waters as Japan will forcibly implement its nuclear-contaminated water dumping plan, the ministry said on Thursday at a press conference.

The ministry said it attached great importance to the issue. It will continue to strengthen the marine radiation environment monitoring, track and judge the possible impact of the dumping plan on China’s marine environment, and safeguard China’s national interests and people's health, the ministry said.

It pointed out that the Japanese government forcibly implemented its nuclear-contaminated water dumping plan, putting self-interest above the long-term well-being of the mankind, which is extremely selfish and irresponsible.

“We urge Japan to listen to the opinions of the international community, deal with its nuclear-contaminated water in a scientific, safe, and transparent way, and accept the supervision of the international community,” said a person in charge of the ministry.

According to the annual monitoring in 2021 and 2022, no abnormalities have been found so far in the artificial radionuclide activity concentrations in seawater and marine organisms under the jurisdiction of China, the ministry said.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, announced it will start releasing its nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean early afternoon on Thursday.