Recent radioactive water leak incident once again expose deficiency in Japan's nuclear facilities: Chinese FM

(ECNS) -- The latest radioactive water leak incident once again exposed serious deficiencies in the operation, maintenance and safety supervision of Japan's nuclear facilities, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

Japanese media reported that on Tuesday radioactive water leaked at the Fugen nuclear reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, which is undergoing decommissioning. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said that the water contains a "high" amount of radioactive substances and several people might have been exposed to radiation.

"Recent months have seen a number of safety incidents involving nuclear facilities in Japan, which have raised serious concerns—the forgery of quality control of radiation detection devices at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and overflow of water from the spent fuel pool at the nuclear waste treatment plant in Rokushima Village, Aomori Prefecture, to name just a few," Lin said.

Despite the problems that exist with regard to the nuclear facilities, such as their dysfunction, chaotic management, and ineffective supervision, the Japanese side still decided to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant that once experienced water overflow from the spent fuel pool. This decision is met by opposition and protests from the Japanese people, the spokesperson said.

China urges the Japanese side to fully learn the lessons of the Fukushima nuclear accident, fulfill its responsibility on nuclear safety, provide a timely explanation of the incident and swiftly address it, properly handle the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and treatment of radioactive waste, and voluntarily receive international oversight, so as to alleviate concerns of the international community, Lin said.

The spokesperson stressed that this incident again highlighted the need for the international community to further step up all-round oversight and monitoring over the management of the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water and the operation of the equipment and facilities in order to protect the marine environment.

（By Evelyn）