Since Japan's decision to discharge wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the sea on April 13, a series of peripheral stakeholders, including China, South Korea and Russia, have expressed their positions and asked Japan to re-examine the resolution. In Taiwan, the people's opposition is also high, but Hsieh Chang-ting, the "representative" of the Taiwan authorities in Japan, is the opposite of the people on the island, defending himself that the mainland is only "seriously concerned" without "protesting," and at the same time confusing the discharge of nuclear wastewater from Fukushima with the discharge of treated water from the operation of Taiwan's nuclear power plant.
After being accused by public opinion on the island of flattering Japan, "aiding Japan," and "authentic Japanese representative in Tokyo," Hsieh Chang-ting almost leaned up on his nostrils and shouted at the people of Taiwan, saying that this was "simply a manifestation of inferiority and self-abuse."
"Representative of Helping Japan" Xie Changting
According to comprehensive Taiwan media sources, on April 14, Xie Changting issued an article on his personal media account to explain Japan's decision to drain nuclear wastewater from the sea, and the full text did not mention any words "protest" and "opposition", and the whole article was excusing Japan. At the same time, he also accused the Island Kuomintang of having a "carved fish" incident during its administration, and the KMT spokesman now says that this is caused by water temperature and has nothing to do with tritium, so while discharging it himself, he also went to protest against Japan's discharge.
In 1993, a mutant chicken fish with deformed spine and convex eyes was caught near the treatment water discharge of the Taiwan Nuclear Power Plant
Hsieh Chang-ting also said that the mainland has not used the word "protest" to oppose Japan's resolution on the discharge of nuclear wastewater from the sea, saying only that it is "serious concern" because "the mainland nuclear power plant is also discharging water from the seashore.", stressing that the mainland and Taiwan are equally difficult to justify and be stern. At the same time, Xie Changting mentioned that the Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharge was started after 2 years, and he also called on everyone to ask themselves, "Will Japan's purification capacity be worse than ours (Taiwan) in two years?" ” 。
Hsieh Chang-ting's above-mentioned inappropriate remarks immediately aroused public condemnation on the island of Taiwan; the people of Taiwan referred to him as a "representative of aiding Japan," and the Kuomintang "legislator" Lai Shi-pao called him an authentic "Representative of Japan in Tokyo." And Cai Baoxing, director general of the Ryukyu District Fishery Association on the island, even said incomprehensibly that Hsieh Chang-ting compared the wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear accident with the water treated at the Taiwan Nuclear Power Plant, knowing that the Tsai Ing-wen authorities did not dare to "talk hard" with Japan, but why "talk about Taiwan's own emissions?" What the hell is this, and who dares to eat Taiwan's fish? Will any government official speak like that? ”
After being scolded for several days, Xie Changting shouted at the people of Taiwan with his nostrils on his back when he accepted the camera of the island's media on the 16th, "Why do you say that I did not protest and that I am flattering japan?" So that's low self-esteem! Frankly speaking, it is inferiority! Masochism! ”。
He claimed that "high concern and strict testing" is Taiwan's current position, but scolding him is "inferiority and self-abuse," and he has not forgotten to pull out the mainland, saying that the mainland did not say the word protest because "because they know that the back is very complicated, don't poke out the honeycomb."
In fact, since the Japanese government decided to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea on April 13, the Chinese side has repeatedly expressed its position to the Japanese side, asking Japan not to start the discharge of nuclear wastewater without authorization until it has fully consulted and reached an agreement with all the relevant countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
On April 14, a foreign ministry spokesperson said at a regular press conference that Japan is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and should be aware of the relevant provisions of the Convention. In accordance with the Convention, States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that pollution caused by events or activities within their jurisdiction or control does not extend beyond the area in which their sovereign rights are exercised. However, due to ocean currents, magnitude, migratory fish and other factors, Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge will inevitably cause cross-border effects. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents, the Convention on Nuclear Safety, etc., Japan is also required to undertake international obligations such as notification and full consultation, environmental impact assessment monitoring, taking preventive measures to ensure that risks are minimized, and ensuring information transparency.
The IAEA Expert Group assessment report makes it clear that other radionuclides are still contained in the existing treated tritium-containing wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. According to Tokyo Electric Power Company, nuclear wastewater contains a total of 62 radionuclides. In August 2018, environmentalists analyzed the data released by Tokyo Electric Power Company and found that the treated nuclear wastewater was far more than the residual tritium, of which 60 times the nuclear wastewater in 2017 seriously exceeded the iodine-129 standard. There is also a serious problem of strontium 90 exceeding the standard in nuclear wastewater. According to media reports, Canada has detected the radioactive element cesium-134 in salmon on its west coast. Levels of radiation have doubled in the waters off Hawaii, with signs that Nuclear contamination of Japan's Fukushima may have spread to North America.
The ocean is not Japan's trash can, and the Pacific Ocean is not Japan's sewer. Japan's treatment of nuclear wastewater should not be paid for by the world. As for your mention of a certain Japanese official saying that "it is okay to drink this water", then ask him to drink it. Japan's Minamata disease is not far away, and the wounds of the local victims have not yet been healed. The Japanese side should not forget the historical tragedy, and still less should it pretend to be confused. We strongly urge the Japanese side to clearly understand its responsibilities, uphold a scientific attitude, fulfill its international obligations, and respond appropriately to the serious concerns of the international community, neighboring countries and its own nationals. The Japanese side should re-examine the issue of nuclear wastewater disposal at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and refrain from initiating the discharge of nuclear wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear power plant without authorization until it has fully consulted and reached an agreement with all the countries concerned and the International Atomic Energy Agency. China reserves the right to respond further.
On April 15, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said that the Japanese government unilaterally decided to dispose of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant by draining the sea, and the Ministry of Commerce would closely follow the developments, carefully assess the serious threats that may be posed to the safety and trade of related food and agricultural and aquatic products, and ensure the safety of Chinese consumers.
On April 15, when answering reporters' questions on this issue again, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that yesterday, the China-ROK Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism on Maritime Affairs held its first meeting. The two sides urged Japan to prudently handle the Issue of Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater in full consultation with international agencies and neighboring countries, and on the basis of the substantive participation of relevant national and international agencies. This is the common position of China and south Korea. The Japanese side has unilaterally decided to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea without authorization, pass on the burden and risks to the outside world, disregard the security interests of the international community, especially its close neighbors in Asia, and is extremely selfish. As Japan's close neighbors and stakeholders, China and the ROK have expressed serious concern and strong dissatisfaction with Japan's irresponsible practices in order to safeguard the health of their people and the international marine environment.
The German Marine Science Research Institute has long made it clear that the Fukushima coast has the strongest ocean current in the world, and within 57 days from the date of discharge, radioactive material will spread to most of the Pacific Ocean and 10 years later to the global sea. What confidence and qualifications does japan have to accuse other countries of being "not based on scientific evidence"? Some Japanese politicians who are trying their best to prove the "innocence" of nuclear wastewater are asking them to use it for drinking, cooking, washing clothes or irrigation, asking them to ensure that seafood will not be contaminated by nuclear wastewater, and asking them to accept the recommendation of the International Atomic Energy Agency to establish a technical working group in cooperation with relevant countries, including China and the ROK, to conduct assessments.
On April 15, Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tomio to lodge solemn representations on the Japanese government's decision to dispose of the wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident by means of marine discharge.
Wu Jianghao pointed out that japan's relevant decision to disregard the global marine environment and the international public health security and the vital security interests of the people of neighboring countries is suspected of violating international law and international rules, and is not committed by a modern civilized country. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.
Wu Jianghao said that china strongly urges Japan to clearly understand its responsibilities, uphold a scientific attitude and fulfill its international obligations. The first is to re-examine the disposal of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident and to recover the erroneous decision to discharge into the sea; the second is to establish a joint technical working group, including Chinese experts, under the framework of international institutions, to ensure that the disposal of nuclear wastewater is strictly subject to international assessment, verification and supervision; and the third is that nuclear wastewater discharge to the sea shall not be initiated without authorization until there is consensus with stakeholders and international agencies. China will continue to work with the international community to closely follow developments and reserve the right to respond further.