中文
By Moulik Jahan
Japan has been criticized for its reckless and irresponsible actions in releasing nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean. The first batch of nuclear-contaminated water was released from August 24 to September 11. This had already aroused worries in Japan and elsewhere. Still, Japan started the second phase of water discharge on October 5. Similar to the first phase, 7,800 metric tons of contaminated water will be released into the ocean over 17 days.
Public and high officials' waves of anger in the Asian-Pacific region are obvious. Japan's release triggered protests in Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, Fiji, and even in Japan itself. Japanese citizens rallied outside Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s headquarters in Tokyo last June, to protest against the dumping.
A group of South Korean activists held a press conference near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on October 5, urging the Japanese government to immediately stop the "nuclear terrorism crimes against humanity." South Korean opposition leader Lee Jun-seok has been criticizing Japan's behavior for endangering the global marine ecosystem since Japan declared its decision.
Manasseh Sogavare, prime minister of the Solomon Islands, said that Solomon Islands is "appalled" by Japan's decision. "IAEA's assessment report is inconclusive and the scientific data shared remains inadequate, incomplete, and biased," he added. Vanuatu's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs called for a boycott of Japan's actions. French New Caledonia and Polynesia, Niue, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands also condemned Japan's decision.
The worry about polluting oceans goes far beyond the region of Asia-Pacific, for people on the earth share marine ecosystems. Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of the Russian Federation stated that Japan's dumping will compel regional countries to expand the scale and intensity of monitoring of marine environmental and biological radiation
The Green Party of the United States, the Green Party of Hawaii, and the U.S. National Association of Marine Laboratories also show their concern about the impact of Japan's release of nuclear-contaminated water. American experts pointed out that marine life and ocean currents could spread radionuclides across the Pacific Ocean. Henry Puna, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, called Japan's release "Pandora’s box," arguing that no discharge should occur until all parties confirm its safety through scientific means.
Japan's disregard for international customary laws and standards endangers the green and sustainable world. This irresponsible act shows that Japan has no minimum respect for the international community and regional countries. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea compels state parties to protect and preserve the marine environment, and Japan's release seriously violates this responsibility.
Although Japan claims the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and expert scientists support the water release, two South Korean media have alleged that the Japanese government sent the IAEA at least 1 million euros as a political payment to accept its dumping proposal. Its refusal to include other regional countries or international organizations raises doubts that Japan has an ulterior narrow motive in releasing its contaminated water.
According to Marcos Orellana, Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, and other independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council, the water may contain quantities of radioactive carbon-14, as well as other radioactive isotopes including strontium-90 and tritium.
The data released by Japan shows that nearly 70 percent of the nuclear-contaminated water treated by Japan's ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) still fails to meet the discharge standard and needs to be purified again.
On September 22, Tatsujiro Suzuki, vice director and professor at Nagasaki University's Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, wrote "Why Japan should stop its Fukushima nuclear wastewater ocean release" in a Belgian magazine. He claimed that there is enormous scientific debate and a lack of popular trust in this matter.
UN experts said the radioactive hazards of tritium have been underestimated and could pose risks to humans and the environment for over 100 years. "Japan has noted that the levels of tritium are very low and do not pose a threat to human health. However, scientists warn that the tritium in the water organically binds to other molecules, moving up the food chain and affecting plants and fish and humans."
Scientist Chris Busby believes that the radioactive water is mostly contaminated with Tritium Oxide (HTO), and seaside residents on Japan's east coast must be cautious and avoid eating anything from the sea or being inside 1km from the coast.
By polluting the marine waters, Japan is endangering marine ecosystems and human health. Japan must be held accountable on this crucial matter.
However, what the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) are doing is to ignore the environmental concerns and deceive the public to cover up their crimes. Japan is even encouraging fish consumption stating that tritium concentration is up to standard. This narrative is unlikely to fool international audiences.
The Japanese government should resolve outstanding domestic and international concerns through conversation and guarantee a reliable discharge mechanism with a well-communicated risk management strategy. Internationally coordinated monitoring and verification is justifiable, reasonable, and proportionate. Arrogance and irresponsibility could bring only disaster to the marine ecosystems and the peace of the Pacific Ocean.
Moulik Jahan, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a strategic and security affairs analyst.
