BEIJING: Japan’s disposal of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the surrounding ocean poses a risk “not only for human health but also for the global marine environment and international public interests,” China said on Friday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing and other nations have taken “completely legitimate, reasonable, and necessary” measures for food safety and public health after the release of wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last year.
Japan began releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the plant last August, triggering a backlash from China and opposition parties in South Korea and the Solomon Islands.
Beijing had suspended all seafood imports from Japan for six months after Tokyo went ahead with plans to release the water, citing concerns about radioactive contamination.
The plant has more than 1 million tons of treated wastewater to release in a 30-year process.
The Fukushima plant was forced to shut down after facing the largest nuclear accident since 1986 in Chernobyl following an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
‘South Korea, US hold joint air drills’
South Korea and the US held joint air drills, the South Korean Air Force said on Friday.
The exercise featured advanced F-35A fighter jets from both nations in a united front amid rising tensions with North Korea, Seoul-based Yonhap reported.
Focused on refining joint operational capabilities, the drills showcased the prowess of the latest-generation stealth fighters alongside South Korean KF-16s, F-15Ks, and other aircraft.
The Air Force noted that F-35As engaged in defensive counter-air maneuvers, including intercepting simulated enemy jets and missiles.
Notably, the US fighter jets operated from Okinawa, Japan, due to the absence of F-35s among US units stationed in South Korea.
This display of airpower comes just days after North Korea’s fifth missile launch this year, further escalating regional anxieties.
The joint exercise underscores the commitment of South Korea and the US to strengthen deterrence against North Korean threats.
