Japan is to begin releasing radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Thursday, prompting China to warn it would take “all steps necessary” to protect food safety and Hong Kong to ban some Japanese seafood imports.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed on Tuesday that more than 1mn tonnes of treated water would be discharged from the plant, a process that is expected to take decades and is strongly opposed by local fishermen concerned about reputational damage.
The move had been expected after a two-year review by the International Atomic Energy Agency last month found Japan’s plan to release the water from the plant in the north eastern prefecture of Fukushima was consistent with international safety standards.