Beijing had called the release of treated radioactive water from power plant ‘a major nuclear safety issue with cross-border implications’.China says it will “gradually resume” importing seafood from Japan after the countries reached a deal that ensures the safety of water released from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant.
About a year ago, China banned seafood imports from Japan, citing the risk of radioactive contamination after operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) started releasing treated water from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean in August 2023. The water had been used to cool the plant’s nuclear reactors after it was swamped in the 2011 tsunami.
Japan said the release of the water was safe and supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog. It criticised China for spreading “scientifically unfounded claims”.
But Japan’s decision sparked fury in China, and it imposed the ban. Russia did the same as a “precautionary measure”.
On Friday, both countries said they had reached a consensus in August over the wastewater release.
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of northeastern Japan triggered a tsunami that knocked out power and cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, leading to meltdowns in three of its six reactors.
Since then, TEPCO has collected the water that was contaminated as it cooled the wrecked reactors along with groundwater and rain that has seeped in.
“China will begin to adju …
