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China has expressed serious concern after reports from Japanese media revealed a radioactive water leak at the Fugen Nuclear Reactor, which is currently undergoing decommissioning. According to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, the leaked water contained a high concentration of radioactive substances, and several individuals may have been exposed to radiation.
Responding to a question from China News Service, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the latest incident once again exposed serious deficiencies in the operation, maintenance, and safety supervision of Japan’s nuclear facilities. He noted that such incidents are not isolated, but part of a broader pattern that has emerged in recent months.
Lin Jian pointed out that Japan has witnessed multiple nuclear safety incidents, which have raised widespread concern both domestically and internationally. These include the forgery of quality control data related to radiation detection devices at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the overflow of water from the spent fuel pool at a nuclear waste treatment facility in Rokushima Village, Aomori Prefecture. These incidents, he said, highlight persistent problems such as equipment malfunction, chaotic management practices, and ineffective regulatory oversight.
Despite these ongoing issues, the Japanese government has decided to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, a facility that previously experienced water overflow from its spent fuel pool. According to the Chinese spokesperson, this decision has triggered opposition and protests among the Japanese public, reflecting deep domestic concerns about nuclear safety.
China urged Japan to draw serious lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident and to fully fulfill its responsibilities regarding nuclear safety. Lin Jian called on the Japanese side to provide a timely and transparent explanation of the Fugen reactor incident, take swift and effective measures to address the problem, and ensure the safe decommissioning of nuclear power plants as well as the proper treatment of radioactive waste.
He further stressed that Japan should voluntarily accept international oversight to help alleviate concerns within the international community. The incident, he said, once again underscores the need for the global community to strengthen comprehensive oversight and monitoring of Japan’s nuclear facility operations, including the management and discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water, in order to protect the marine environment and public health.
China reiterated that nuclear safety is a shared international responsibility and that any lapses could have cross-border and long-term consequences, making transparency, accountability, and strict supervision essential.
