UN watchdog collects Fukushima water samples with China joining for first time

The United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog collected samples of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Friday, marking the first time that China has participated in the process, Kyodo news agency reported.

Japan and China have agreed to Beijing’s involvement in the sampling and analysis of the discharged water under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to government officials, the move is part of efforts to facilitate China’s potential resumption of Japanese seafood imports, which were suspended following Japan’s decision to release the treated water into the sea.

In addition to IAEA experts, analysts from China, South Korea, Switzerland and France participated in the sampling activity.

On Friday, liquid samples were taken from a storage tank at the site, where treated water is held before being diluted with seawater.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered core meltdowns in several reactors following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

The plant’s operator commenced the controlled release of treated radioactive water into the ocean in August 2023, a move that sparked strong opposition from China.

- Bernama

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