At a regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 11, the Global Times reported that the Minjoo Party, the largest opposition party of the Republic of Korea, recently organized a delegation to visit Japan to take measures against contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear Power Plant and express its deep concern over the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. Many Japanese people have also held rallies against the government's plan to release contaminated water into the sea, saying it will pose health risks to people in Japan and around the world. What is China's comment?

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China has repeatedly expressed grave concern and opposition to the Japanese government's decision to release contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea.

The contaminated water in Fukushima is directly in contact with the melted reactor cores in the Fukushima nuclear accident. It contains more than 60 radionuclides, many of which have not yet been effectively treated. Some long-lived radionuclides may spread along with ocean currents and form bioenrichment effects, which will increase the total amount of radionuclides in the environment and cause unpredictable hazards to the Marine environment and human health.

According to general international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Japan has the obligation to take all measures to avoid environmental pollution, to notify and fully consult with potentially affected countries, to assess and monitor the environmental impact, to take preventive measures to minimize risks, to ensure transparency of information and to carry out international cooperation, Wang said.

However, the Japanese side tried to evade its responsibilities and obligations with various excuses. Without fully studying and demonstrating various disposal options, it decided to dump nuclear-contaminated water into the sea for its own selfish interests. This is an extremely irresponsible move to shift the risk to other countries and the whole mankind.

"We once again urge the Japanese side to face up to the legitimate concerns of the international community and its own people, handle the nuclear-contaminated water in a safe manner in line with its international obligations, international safety standards and good practices, including fully studying and demonstrating other disposal options besides sea discharge, and avoid transferring unpredictable risks to the international community," the spokesperson said. Japan should not start the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea without full consultation and agreement with its neighbors and other stakeholders and relevant international institutions.