China Slams Japan Over Nuclear Safety Concerns Amid Fukushima Oversight Claims

China has criticised Japan over what it described as repeated lapses in nuclear safety, citing reports of radioactive water leakage and alleged manipulation of quality control checks at key nuclear facilities, including the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Beijing’s remarks followed reports of a leak involving water containing radioactive tritium at the Fugen nuclear reactor in Fukui prefecture, as well as claims of falsified inspections of radiation detection equipment at Fukushima. The Chinese government said the incidents raise serious questions about Japan’s nuclear oversight more than a decade after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Tokyo must provide a clear and timely explanation of the reported leak at the Fugen reactor, referencing information released by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. He warned that the incident highlights weaknesses in the operation, maintenance and supervision of Japan’s nuclear facilities.

Lin also pointed to what he described as a pattern of safety problems, including an overflow of water from a spent fuel pool at a nuclear waste treatment site in Rokushima Village, Aomori prefecture. According to him, the repeated incidents suggest systemic shortcomings rather than isolated technical errors.

The criticism comes as Japanese media report that Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings plans to restart two reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant on January 20. China urged Japan to fully learn from the Fukushima disaster and strengthen transparency and regulatory oversight before moving ahead with reactor restarts.

Beijing said continued safety incidents could undermine public confidence and have broader regional implications, as countries closely monitor Japan’s nuclear policies and their potential environmental impact.