Japan Tuesday completed the release of the seventh batch of treated radioactive water into the sea from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. discharged around 7,800 tons of water, which had begun on June 28, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.
The operator reported no abnormal tritium levels in nearby waters.
Japan began releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the plant since last August, triggering a strong reaction from China and opposition parties in South Korea and the Solomon Islands.
The plant was forced to shut down after facing the largest nuclear accident since 1986 in Chernobyl, following an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
“Selfish interests”
Last August, Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company began releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Tokyo’s decision sparked demonstrations in Japan, South Korea, and other countries.
Chinese officials also issued a harsh statement in response to the controversial decision, saying Beijing “opposes and strongly condemns it.” Japan’s actions were “selfish and irresponsible” as the ocean “belongs to all humanity,” China said.
“There could be a man-made secondary disaster to the local people and the whole world if Japan chooses to dump the water into the ocean just to serve Japan’s selfish interests,” Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said in the statement.
