Japan’s Prime Minister voiced strong criticism against China, citing instances of stones being hurled at diplomatic establishments and educational institutions in China. The tension has escalated in the wake of the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
China recently imposed a seafood import ban from Japan, responding to the controlled release of cooling water from the Fukushima plant, an operation endorsed as safe by both Tokyo and the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
In the aftermath of this situation, Japanese businesses, including bakeries and aquariums, have reported receiving a substantial number of abusive phone calls originating from Chinese numbers.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed the press, acknowledging the unfortunate events. He stated, “Regrettably, there have been several instances of harassment calls that appear to originate from China, as well as cases of stones being thrown at the Japanese embassy and schools.”
Consequently, Japan took diplomatic action, summoning the Chinese ambassador to convey its concerns. Japanese authorities urged China to encourage its citizens to maintain a calm and responsible demeanor. To address the escalating tensions, Japan announced heightened security measures at its diplomatic missions and educational institutions within China.
As a precautionary measure, Japanese nationals residing in China were advised to adopt a low profile and refrain from speaking Japanese loudly in public settings. Deputy Foreign Minister Masataka Okano conveyed Japan’s viewpoint to Ambassador Wu Jianghao. Okano emphasized the importance of China sharing accurate information based on scientific evidence, rather than unnecessarily fueling concerns.
Social media in China saw the proliferation of recordings and videos showcasing the nuisance calls, garnering significant attention and engagement. Okano maintained, “Since the commencement of the wastewater discharge, we have observed a persistent influx of suspected harassing calls and other forms of harassment related to the discharge, which are believed to originate from China. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved.”
Okano expressed additional concerns about incidents targeting Japan-related facilities within China. The escalating nature of these incidents was viewed with deep concern by Japanese authorities.
The current scenario is the result of Japan’s decision to release over 500 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of Fukushima wastewater into the Pacific. This decision comes twelve years after a devastating tsunami led to the destruction of three reactors, culminating in one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters.
The plant’s operator, TEPCO, assured that all radioactive elements, except tritium, have been effectively filtered out, and tritium levels remain within safe limits.
Japanese authorities confirmed the accuracy of test results since the wastewater discharge commenced, reaffirming the safety of the operation.
