“Steady progress toward decommissioning, including discharge of treated water (contaminated water) into the sea, and Japan’s transparent response based on scientific evidence were welcomed.” (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura)
“I express my utmost respect for the efforts of Tokyo Electric Power Corporation and the Japanese government. However, we cannot welcome the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima.” (German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke)
A press conference held at the end of the G7 climate, energy and environment ministers meeting held in Sapporo, Japan on the 16th. The Asahi Shimbun reported on the 17th that when Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura, the chair country, mentioned that the release of contaminated water from Fukushima was welcomed by the G7, German Environment Minister Lemke, who was sitting next to him, immediately refuted.
Even though the G7 joint statement did not include the phrase ‘welcome to discharge contaminated water’, the embarrassing situation was created when Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura was stopped by the German minister while making a related comment to reporters. If Germany had not pointed it out, it could have been misrepresented to the international community as if the G7 welcomed the discharge of contaminated water.
At German Minister Lemke’s point, Minister Nishimura Kyongsan corrected, saying, “I made a little mistake and included everyone in ‘Welcome’.” Regarding Japan’s discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, the G7 joint statement said, “We welcome Japan’s transparent efforts with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) based on scientific evidence and steady progress in the decommissioning of the nuclear reactor. It only states that it supports the IAEA’s independent Fukushima nuclear power plant verification process.
Japan, which plans to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant between spring and summer this year, has a policy of overcoming opposition from neighboring countries such as Korea and China by gaining support from the G7 member countries based on the IAEA verification. The Asahi Shimbun reported that the G7 joint statement was expressed differently from the Japanese government’s intention, as it was mentioned that “Japan is encouraged to proceed with the plan in an open and transparent manner while communicating closely with the international community.”
In a separate statement in relation to the G7 Joint Statement, the Korean government said, “We will continue to confirm the scientific and objective safety of the discharge of contaminated water.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.