The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), granted approval to Japan on Tuesday for its proposal to release treated radioactive water from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima plant into the ocean.
This decision comes despite objections from Beijing and some local residents. Following a two-year review, the IAEA stated that Japan's plans align with global safety standards and would have minimal radiological impact on people and the environment.
IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi presented the final report to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, expressing the uniqueness of the situation and pledging to address any remaining concerns by stationing IAEA staff at the Fukushima plant to monitor the release.
Japan, which has treated the water used to cool the fuel rods of the plant, maintains that the process is safe, but a specific date for the release is pending approval from the national nuclear regulatory body.
The plan has faced opposition from Japanese fishing unions and regional residents, with a petition collecting over 250,000 signatures.
China has emerged as the primary critic, expressing dissatisfaction with the IAEA's report and calling for the suspension of the plan. Japan contends that the treated water, which has been filtered to remove most radioactive elements except tritium, will be diluted to levels well below international standards before being released into the Pacific.
Chinese officials have rejected Japan's comparison of tritium levels, accusing them of confusing concepts and misleading the public. IAEA Chief Grossi plans to visit the Fukushima plant and subsequently travel to South Korea, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands to address concerns and ease tensions surrounding the release.
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