Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the 31st Meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in response to Japan’s Statement Regarding the Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water Issue

耿爽大使在《联合国海洋法公约》第31次缔约国会上就福岛核污染水问题的答辩发言

25 June 2021

2021年6月25日

Mr. President,

主席先生：

Thank you for giving me the floor to exercise the right to reply.

感谢你允许我行使答辩权。

Just now the Japanese Representative made erroneous remarks on the issue of the nuclear contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear power plant, attempting to emphasize that the treated water will be harmless, and that they have been open and transparent, and the plan has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These are intentionally misleading for they are not in line with the facts. China wishes to underline the following points.

日本代表刚才发言时就福岛核污染水问题发表错误言论，试图强调经处理的核污染水排海无害、日方已做到公开透明、有关做法已得到国际原子能机构认可，这些与事实完全不符，纯属有意误导。中方愿强调指出：

First, the Fukushima nuclear accident is one of the most serious in world history. The contaminated water is composed of cooling water injected into the melted reactor core, as well as groundwater and rainwater. It consists large amounts of radioactive isotopes which are created in the fission process and non-existent in nature. There is no precedent to refer to and the impact on marine environment, food security and public health cannot be neglected. If the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water will be harmless as Japan has claimed, why would they not keep it for domestic use? Why does it insist on dumping it into the sea?

第一，福岛核事故是迄今全球发生的最严重核事故之一，其污染水来自于流经熔融损毁反应堆堆芯的冷却水、地下水和雨水等，含有大量核裂变产生的放射性核素。这些核素在自然界中原本不存在，在国际上没有排放先例，对海洋环境、食品安全及公众健康带来的影响不容忽视。如果福岛核污染水真如日方所言经过处理后毫无危害，日方为何不将其留在本国自用，而非要将其排放入海呢？

Second, actually the Japanese side has not been transparent and open as it has explained. Before the announcement of its decision to release nuclear contaminated water into the sea, Japan did not fully consult with neighboring countries and other stakeholders. After the announcement, many Pacific-rim countries including China, as well as organizations such as the Pacific Islands Forum, all expressed concerns on Japan’s release decision. But so far, Japan has not responded earnestly to and has not addressed such concerns.

第二，日方并非像它自称的那样行事透明。在公布排海决定前，日方未与周边国家等利益攸关方充分协商。日方公布排海决定后，包括中国在内的环太平洋国家以及太平洋岛国论坛等组织均对日方向海洋排放核污染水的决定表达关切，日方迄未作出认真回应、迄未解决各方关切。

Third, the IAEA has never endorsed or approved Japan’s decision to release nuclear contaminated water into the sea. At present, the IAEA is establishing a technical working group and has confirmed that specialists from China and Republic of Korea will be invited to join the group. China will offer full support to this work, urging Japan to respond to the concerns of the stakeholders and the international community. Japan should act in good faith, with a highly responsible attitude toward international public interests, and in an open, transparent and scientific manner, prudently address relevant issues.

第三，国际原子能机构从来没有核可或认可日方向海洋排放核污染水的决定。目前，国际原子能机构正在筹建相关技术工作组，并已确认将邀请中国、韩国专家参与。中方将全力支持相关工作，推动日方回应利益攸关方和国际社会的关切。日方应切实拿出诚意，本着对国际公共利益高度负责的态度，以公开、透明、科学的方式，审慎处理有关问题。

Fourth, the disposal of the nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear accident is not merely a domestic issue for Japan. The planned actions will severely harm international public health, safety and the immediate interests of neighboring countries and their people. We once again urge Japan to revoke its wrong decision. It must not wantonly start the ocean discharge before consulting and reaching consensus with all stakeholders including neighboring countries and relevant international institutions.

第四，福岛核电站事故核污染水处置问题不只是日本国内问题，有关做法将对国际公共健康安全和周边国家人民切身利益产生严重影响。中方强烈敦促日方撤销错误决定，在同包括周边邻国在内的各利益攸关方及有关国际机构协商并达成共识前，不得擅自启动排海。