Japan must handle the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water carefully and must not start it without permission, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, told Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang Yi said that China and Japan are close neighbors separated by a strip of water. Taking history as a mirror and opening up the future is the right way for the two countries to get along. The Japanese side expressed that the two countries are partners and do not pose a threat to each other and are committed to developing constructive China-Japan relations. It is hoped that the Japanese side will implement these statements. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The Japanese side should take this opportunity to sum up experience and lessons, remove internal and external interference, and work with China in the same direction to ensure steady progress of China-Japan relations on the right track. Unilateralism and decoupling serve no one's interests. The Japanese side should recognize the situation and make an independent choice.

Wang stressed that the release of contaminated water into the sea concerns the Marine environment and the health of the people of all countries. Japan must handle the issue with caution and should not initiate the discharge without full consultation with its neighbors and other stakeholders and international institutions

Nuclear contaminated water is discharged into the sea.

Hayashi said Japan-China cooperation is of great significance to achieving respective development and prosperity. Last year, the two sides jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Japan is willing to strengthen communication and dialogue with China at all levels, strengthen cooperation in economy, trade and youth exchanges and implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on some international and regional issues.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, triggering a massive tsunami. Due to the double impact of the earthquake and tsunami, a large amount of radioactive material leaked from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. On April 13, 2021, the Japanese government officially decided to replace Fukushima

Contaminated water is filtered and diluted before being released into the sea, but the decision has been met with widespread skepticism and opposition from the international community, as well as strong concerns in Japan.