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<html><body><div>Rahm Emanuel is the U.S. ambassador to Japan.The world watched in collective shock on March 11, 2011, as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster unfolded. The forces of nature wreaked havoc on northeastern Japan, particularly the city of Soma, where the tsunami alone claimed the lives of over 400 residents.In the aftermath of the disaster, Soma, like many affected cities, faced the daunting task of rebuilding the fabric of its community and returning vibrancy to its municipal life. The economic repercussions of the catastrophe were felt deeply, with local families, fisheries and farms left to grapple with multiple recovery challenges.My return this week to the Fukushima region was set to be both a diplomatic mission and a personal endeavor to better understand Soma's resilience in recovery. However, given China's baseless political and economic actions against Japan over the release of treated wastewater from the nuclear plant, the trip has now taken on the additional purpose of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Japan to confront Beijing's latest acts of economic coercion.I hope to see firsthand the progress made in Fukushima and to hear stories from residents about the measures Japan has taken to ensure the safety and well-being of its people. I have no doubt that the seafood I eat, the conversations I have and the stories I hear will reflect the dedication, determination and dignity that the Japanese people bring to all their endeavors.In the aftermath of the 2011 catastrophe, Japan could have acted with expediency, deception and secrecy, but it chose a more responsible path. Japan has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to science, openness and genuine international citizenship in planning for the release of treated water a decade after the accident.As part of this commitment, Japan has invited in and worked in tandem with scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Its teams have evaluated nuclear safety elements, assessed radiological levels and provided daily updates to the group's member states and the public. These still continue, 12 years after the incident."Based on its comprehensive assessment, the IAEA has concluded that the approach and activities to the discharge of [advanced liquid processing system] treated water taken by Japan are consistent with relevant international safety standards," IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in his foreword to the agency's report last month about the water release.The IAEA safety review -- co-sponsored with the World Health Organization and seven other international organizations -- concluded that Japan's plans to release treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station would meet the agency's safety standards.The IAEA report, which took nearly two years of work by a dedicated task force, found that the release of the treated water would have a negligible radiological impact on local communities and the marine environment.While Japan has been consistently open and receptive with observers from the IAEA and experts from other Indo-Pacific countries, China has launched misinformation campaigns in pursuit of political gains via economic coercion. <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade/China-s-import-ban-hurts-Japan-s-seafood-industry-expansion-plans">China's recent decision to ban all Japanese seafood imports</a> and its clandestine efforts to influence other nations to isolate Japan have been egregious at best.There is a stark contrast to be made and lesson to be learned from Japan's meticulous handling of Fukushima's treated water compared with China's approach to public health challenges that have originated in its own backyard, such as avian flu, SARS and COVID-19. 
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 Then-Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits a hospital in Wuhan in January 2020: Beijing's handling of COVID-19 lacked transparency. (CNSphoto via Reuters)




 

 
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One cannot help but wonder how different the global health landscape would be and how many lives would have been saved if China had engaged in even a fraction of the due diligence, openness and international cooperation that Japan has in managing Fukushima.In those cases, China's response was marked by a lack of transparency, accountability or timely information sharing with the global community. This not only hampered an effective response in real time but has also led to the loss of countless lives.China has not subjected itself to scientific scrutiny with its own power plant releases. China routinely discharges tritium from at least four reactors -- namely, Hongyanhe, Qinshan Phase III, Ningde and Yangjiang -- at levels five times higher than that now being released from Fukushima Daiichi. This occurs without any international scientific review, consultation or notification. The lack of scientific rigor is glaring, especially when contrasted with Japan's work with the IAEA.China's environmental recklessness extends beyond its borders. It is the world's single-worst offender against marine sustainability. From Africa to South America, from the Pacific islands to the South China Sea, illegal Chinese fishing fleets are depleting global fish stocks, undermining other nations' food security and wreaking havoc on ecological systems.The case of the Philippines serves as a poignant example of China's lack of responsible international citizenship. When the Philippines took China to The Hague over illegal activities in the South China Sea, the tribunal found China responsible for many misdeeds, including environmental destruction and the scarring of coral reefs visible from space.This stands in stark contrast to Japan, which has been open and cooperative with international bodies like the IAEA in managing the Fukushima crisis.Japan's principled stand is a lesson for all, especially for nations like China, whose political point-scoring often overshadows scientific rigor and global health.As we all navigate through complex geopolitical challenges, it is crucial to make judgments based on science, openness and responsible behavior. Japan's handling of the Fukushima incident exemplifies the highest standards the international community strives for.I look forward to enjoying Fukushima's fresh seafood and buying produce, especially the area's delicious peaches. I also look forward to drawing attention to Japan's good citizenship and contrasting it with China's consistent recklessness at the expense of others.
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Japan has been transparent and open about Fukushima

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