Fri Sep 20 08:42:43 UTC 2024: ## China and Japan Reach Agreement on Fukushima Water Discharge, But Ban on Japanese Seafood Remains
**BEIJING** – After a protracted diplomatic standoff lasting over two years, China and Japan have reached a consensus on the discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. The agreement, announced by the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday, brings an end to a major point of friction between the two Asian powers.
The issue ignited in August 2023 when Japan began releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima site, which China deemed a “major nuclear safety issue with cross-border implications.” In response, Beijing imposed a blanket ban on all aquatic products from Japan.
Japan, in turn, criticized China for disseminating “scientifically unfounded claims” and pointed to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) endorsement of the plan, which the U.N. nuclear watchdog declared as meeting international standards and posing a negligible threat to human health and the environment.
The key point of agreement involves Japan establishing a long-term international monitoring arrangement, allowing independent sampling and monitoring by stakeholders.
While the consensus marks a significant step forward, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, emphasized that the agreement does not automatically entail the resumption of Japanese seafood imports. “We will carry out technical consultations with the Japanese side and gradually resume the import of Japanese aquatic products,” she stated.
The development suggests a potential thawing of relations between China and Japan, although the immediate lifting of the seafood ban remains uncertain.
First Piper 