STORY: IAEA denies endorsement of Japan's Fukushima nuke wastewater discharge plan
DATELINE: July 5, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:33
LOCATION: Tokyo
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
2. various of the IAEA Director General presenting the report to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (Source: Prime minister's office of Japan)
3. STANDUP 1 (English): TU YIFAN, Xinhua correspondent
4. various of the IAEA safety review report
5. SOUNDBITE (English): RAFAEL GROSSI, IAEA Director General
6. various of protestors gathered outside the Japan National Press Club
7. STANDUP 2 (English): TU YIFAN, Xinhua correspondent
8. various of Japanese and Korean protestors

STORYLINE:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does not endorse the Japanese government's decision to release nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.

This is according to a safety review report presented by the IAEA chief to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday.

STANDUP 1 (English): TU YIFAN, Xinhua correspondent
"At the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi started his four-day visit to Japan on Tuesday and delivered the IAEA task force's final assessment report on the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) proposed in the plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the (crippled) Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean."

In the foreword of the report, the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, quote, "I would like to emphasize that the release of the treated water stored at Fukushima Daiichi Power Station is a national decision by the Government of Japan and that this report is neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of that policy."

The report also said, "The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of IAEA Member States," adding that "neither the IAEA nor its Member States assume any responsibility for consequences which may arise from its use.

SOUNDBITE (English): RAFAEL GROSSI, IAEA Director General
"As you know, this is the decision by the (Japanese) government. It's not the IAEA decision. It's a decision by the government of Japan. The government decided to proceed with the IAEA, which will be permanently here reviewing, monitoring, and accessing this activity for decades to come. If Japan wants to allow other countries to perform other controls, it's not in my purview."

During Grossi's press conference, a group of protestors gathered outside the Japan National Press Club to voice opposition to Japan's ocean discharge plan.

STANDUP 2 (English): TU YIFAN, Xinhua correspondent
"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, neighboring countries, Pacific coastal areas, South Pacific island countries, and the overall international community."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tokyo.
(XHTV)