China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. Photo: VCG

 China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that China supports South Korea's just position in condemning Japan's decision to dump wastewater into the sea and urges Japan to withdraw its mistaken decision after a South Korean parliamentary committee on Tuesday approved a resolution condemning the plan.

Over the past two months since Japan unilaterally made the decision to discharge the contaminated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, Pacific Rim countries including China and South Korea, as well as the international organizations including the Pacific Islands Forum have all expressed grave concerns over Japan's decision, said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the ministry, at a press conference on Wednesday.

Japan could have spent the two months in full consultation with stakeholders in the international community, adjusting the disposal of the wastewater, and rectifying the chaotic management of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). However, the Japanese government has wilfully persisted in pushing forward the preparations for the discharge of the wastewater, and so far has failed to respond seriously and responsibly to the concerns of the international community, Wang pointed out.

We once again warn the Japanese government that the disposal of the nuclear-contaminated water concerns the lives and health of the Japanese people and people around the world, as well as the safety of the global marine ecological environment, so the wastewater must be handled with the utmost caution, Wang stressed.

Wang urged the Japanese government to withdraw its mistaken decision and fully consult with all stakeholders in the international community as soon as possible.

We should return to the right track of full consultation with all stakeholders of the international community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as soon as possible.

South Korea's National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Tuesday unanimously passed the resolution, which also calls on Tokyo to take sufficient measures to ensure the safety of radioactive water at the Fukushima plant, South Korean media reported.

Global Times