(Image source: NDTV)
Following the release of water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan stated on Tuesday that harassment of its citizens in China was “extremely regrettable” and confirmed that a brick had been hurled at the embassy there.
As Japan started releasing cleaned wastewater from the wrecked plant in an operation in Tokyo that the United Nations’ nuclear inspector has deemed is safe, China last week imposed a ban on all seafood imports from its neighbour.
Since then, Japan has boosted security around schools and diplomatic missions and advised its residents living in China to maintain a low profile.A brick was reportedly thrown at Japan’s embassy in Beijing on Tuesday. The Japanese Prime minister had called upon China to address the situation .
Fukushima Nuclear plant disaster
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on March 11, 2011, at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The disaster was caused by a combination of a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and a tsunami, which triggered a meltdown of three of the plant’s reactors.
The meltdown released large amounts of radioactive material into the environment, forcing the evacuation of more than 100,000 people from the surrounding area. The disaster is considered to be one of the most serious nuclear accidents in history.
The clean-up and decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was expected to take decades and cost billions of dollars. The disaster has also had a significant impact on the Japanese economy and society.
Release of Fukushima nuclear plant water
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was severely damaged by a tsunami in 2011, causing the release of radioactive water into the environment. The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), has been working to clean up the contaminated water, but it is a slow and complex process.
One of the challenges is that the water is highly radioactive and can be harmful to human health. TEPCO has been storing the water in tanks on the site of the plant..Another challenge is that the water is contaminated with tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Tritium is not as harmful as other radioactive isotopes, but it can still pose a health risk if ingested in large quantities.TEPCO is still working on a long-term solution for the Fukushima nuclear plant water.
China Protest
The Fukushima nuclear plant water is a major environmental and health concern. Japan began releasing more than 500 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of diluted wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific on Thursday . The release of Fukushima water is a controversial topic. The Japanese government has decided to release treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
The water has been treated to remove most radioactive isotopes, but it still contains tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The government has argued that the release of the water is safe, and that the levels of tritium are below the international safety standards. However, there is still some concern about the potential environmental and health impacts of the release.
The release of the water has been met with criticism from local residents and environmental groups. They argue that the release is not safe, and that it could pose a risk to human health and the environment. They also argue that the government has not done enough to consult with the public about the decision.
China is the leading protester of the decision .Water which contain about 190 becquerels of tritium per litre, is below the World Health Organisation’s drinking limit of 10,000 becquerels per litre, as per a report by Reuters. Becquerels is a considered as the unit of radioactivity .
This decision has led to an attack on the Japan embassy . It is a matter of grave concern for the Japanese government. Fukushima city has reported a high number of calls from China related to the release of water. Japan has called upon China to stop harassment of its citizens. It has also advised them to follow certain steps like talking slowly ,so as not to invite the ire of the local population .Both China and Japan should ensure that no harm happens to citizens and ensure proper steps to address the issue.
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (Image source : Business Today)
