TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday (Sep 6) he explained Japan’s stance on the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant to Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Indonesia.
Japan started releasing the water from the wrecked plant into the ocean last month, drawing strong criticism from China. In retaliation, China has imposed a blanket ban on all aquatic imports from Japan.
A massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl 25 years earlier.
Kishida told reporters he spoke briefly with Qiang ahead of a session at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta.
“During the chat, I explained Japan’s position on the treated water to Premier Li,” Kishida said. He refused to say how Li had responded.
Source: CNA
