Beyond scientific concerns, Japan’s Fukushima water release is also emotive, diplomatic issue
- China has turned Fukushima into a geopolitical issue, but reality is that Tokyo has given Beijing the opportunity to do so, right on a silver platter
- Beijing-Tokyo chill to continue with Fukushima throwing a spanner in the works, diplomatic visit opportunities squandered, and with more waste water released
My first thought was, surely next on the cards would be a similar visit by Japanese lawmakers.
But a quick search indicated otherwise.
However, party secretary general Keiichi Ishii said Beijing’s opposition to the discharge was likely “a major factor” behind the cancellation.
‘Clearly a concern’: Japan’s hardening China stance sparks regional unease
Over the past two months, former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Toshihiro Nikai, who became head of a group of Japanese lawmakers keen to promote ties with Beijing, faced similar difficulties in visiting China.
While the Japanese lawmakers are likely making efforts to reschedule the visits, these appear unlikely any time soon, given Tokyo’s penultimate decision to release the treated waste water in August.
While some have said China has turned the Fukushima water issue into a geopolitical issue, the inescapable reality is that Tokyo has given Beijing the opportunity to do so, right on a silver platter.
While geopolitics is a distinct possibility, the concerns shared by Chinese citizens – and those around the region – of contaminated seafood and harm to the environment, cannot be ruled out.
In August, before the start of the release, I was in Japan where I was confronted by a Japanese journalist who asked: “Why wouldn’t the Chinese trust the International Atomic Energy Agency?”
Without going into the scientific reservations contrary to those held by the global nuclear watchdog, I suggested to my counterpart that the discharge had emerged not just as a scientific but an emotive issue, considering the massive scale of the radioactive disaster in 2011.
An even higher proportion – 84 per cent – of South Koreans disapproved of Japan’s decision to release the waste water, according to a joint survey by South Korea’s Hankook Ilbo and Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspapers conducted between May 26 and 28.
In the Pacific Islands, the Pacific Collective on Nuclear Issues – made up of civil society groups and NGOs – said they did not feel assured by the IAEA’s endorsement.
There are already many issues that rile China when it comes to Japan, including efforts by Tokyo to deepen military and building supply chains with Washington and its allies, and Japan’s more robust unofficial ties with Taiwan.
‘Ridiculous’: UN body slammed after approving release of treated Fukushima water
But with Fukushima throwing a spanner in the works, summer visit opportunities have already been squandered, and with more waste water being released in the meantime, expect the Beijing-Tokyo chill to continue far longer into the immediate future.
Maria Siow is a senior correspondent at the Post’s Asia desk.