STORY: IAEA report not greenlight for Japan's nuke wastewater discharge: Chinese embassy
DATELINE: July 4, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:34
LOCATION: Tokyo
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP (English): TU YIFAN, Xinhua correspondent
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WU JIANGHAO, Chinese Ambassador to Japan

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): TU YIFAN, Xinhua correspondent
"The Chinese Embassy in Japan on Tuesday stated that the IAEA's safety report does not necessarily greenlight the Japanese government's plan to discharge the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea this summer. The Japanese government has been pushing to start dumping the contaminated water this summer, which has aroused strong opposition and doubts from domestic fishing groups, Pacific coastal areas, South Pacific island countries, and the overall international community."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WU JIANGHAO, Chinese Ambassador to Japan
"Following the ocean discharge decision announced in April 2021 and the official plan released in July 2022, the Japanese government repeatedly declared that it would not delay the discharge long before the IAEA task force completed the assessment and issued the final report. The IAEA, in terms of functional authorization, is mandated to promote the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology, but is not the appropriate body to assess the long-term effects of nuclear-contaminated water on the marine environment and marine life's health. From the very beginning, Japan has limited the mandate of the IAEA task force and does not accept evaluation on other disposal options. Under such circumstances, the IAEA report cannot prove the legitimacy and legality of Japan's ocean discharge plan, nor can it absolve Japan of its moral responsibility and obligations under international law."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tokyo.
(XHTV)