Chinese State Media Survey on Japan's Radioactive Water Discharge... "86% Negative"

Ahead of IAEA Safety Report Release, Public Disclosure
Especially Negative from China and Japan
"Not the Pacific Garbage Dump," Calls for Joint Response from Concerned Countries

Chinese state media released the results of a public opinion survey regarding Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water, reporting that 86% of respondents expressed negative views. The timing of this survey is particularly notable as it was published just before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was set to release a safety report on the contaminated water discharge.

On the 4th, China's state-run Global Times (GT) reported that its own research center conducted a survey starting last month across 11 countries?China, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand?to gauge public perception of Japan nationwide. The survey targeted 11,633 respondents aged 18 to 70.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The survey included 22 questions covering respondents' knowledge and attitudes toward Japan's dumping plan, its impacts, and the response measures of Asia-Pacific countries.

Overall, 86% of respondents expressed a negative attitude toward Japan's contaminated water discharge plan (multiple responses allowed). Specifically, reactions included concern (56%), shock (44%), fear (38%), and anger (38%). Notably, 98% of Chinese respondents and over 90% of South Korean respondents evaluated Japan's decision negatively, showing the highest level of concern among the 11 countries surveyed.

More than 80% of respondents from the 10 countries excluding Japan described Japan's dumping plan as "irresponsible." Among them, 76% of Chinese, 59% of South Koreans, and 52% of New Zealanders considered the measure "very irresponsible." Over 80% of respondents from these 10 countries answered that they "strongly oppose" or "oppose" Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.

In this survey, 94% of respondents predicted that Japan's discharge plan would have negative effects on both Japan and other countries, with 57% expecting Japan's neighboring countries to suffer the most damage.

Lu Yadong, director of the Japan Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told GT, "The discharge of nuclear-contaminated water will have irreversible impacts on the people of neighboring countries and the global ecosystem," adding, "This survey sufficiently reflects the concerns of the peoples of the involved countries, and the Japanese government should pay attention to this." He also emphasized, "The Japanese government broke its previous promise to seek the understanding of all stakeholders before taking action, causing local public concern and opposition from the fisheries industry."

GT cited experts' opinions, stating, "The Pacific Ocean is not Japan's trash bin, and the discharge plan concerns all humanity," stressing, "This is not a private matter of Japan."

As a response measure to the contaminated water discharge, "joint action" was mentioned. Chang Yanchang, director of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea Research Institute at Dalian Maritime University, said, "The international community can take joint measures," and argued, "The United Nations should evaluate whether Japan's dumping plan violates international law at the International Court of Justice." He also explained that the survey results are very useful and will help apply pressure on the Japanese government.

Meanwhile, according to Japanese media such as NHK, Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, is scheduled to deliver a comprehensive report assessing the safety of Japan's plan to discharge radioactive contaminated water into the ocean to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the same day. The report is expected to be made public after being handed to Prime Minister Kishida. Director General Grossi has maintained the position that "if conducted properly according to standards, there will be no adverse environmental impact" regarding the ocean discharge, and the report is anticipated to reflect a similar stance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.