China defended on Tuesday the legitimacy and necessity of its ban on imports of marine products from Japan, after Tokyo filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), considering it “totally unacceptable.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Japan’s dumping of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea is an “unprecedented” act and “without recognized norms” that “puts the marine environment and public safety.
Mao stated that the international community is “concerned” by the consequences of this decision and has taken preventive measures.
“China’s relevant measures are entirely legitimate, reasonable and necessary,” he added.
The spokeswoman called on Japan to “correct its mistake” and “seriously respond to the rational concerns and demands of neighboring countries and the international community.”
The Japanese government asked China to “remove the restriction as soon as possible”, considering that it lacks scientific basis.
Tokyo presented a document to the members of the WTO, an organization that monitors compliance and standardization of international trade, in which it argues its opposition to the veto.
The company that owns the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant began on August 24 to discharge treated water from the plant.
China has shown strong opposition since the plan, which received approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), became known.
The UN agency affirmed that the Japanese plan complies with international security measures and its human and environmental impact will be, in principle, harmless.
Source: TSF
