At the G7 press conference where ministers from seven major countries gathered, an unusual incident occurred where the German minister directly refuted Japan’s claim to explain the achievements of the meeting.
German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said yesterday (16th) at a press conference at the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministerial Meeting, which closed in Sapporo, Japan, that Japan cannot welcome the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
According to local Japanese media such as Kyodo News, Minister Lemke said, “I pay my full respect to the efforts of Tokyo Electric Power and the Japanese government” in relation to the treatment of contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, but “I I cannot say my that we welcome the discharge of contaminated water into the sea,” he said.
Earlier, when Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura presented the outcome of the meeting, he mentioned that all countries welcomed Japan’s transparent efforts, including “discharging contaminated water into the sea,” the German minister sitting next to him refuted immediately that it was not so
In fact, according to the joint statement published this time, Japan’s transparent response to nuclear power plants was welcomed along with verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but there was no mention of discharging contaminated water into the sea.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura admitted to reporters after the conference that he had exaggerated his comments, saying, “I said it was wrong.”
Originally, Japan tried to include the phrase “We welcome Japan’s transparent process for ocean dumping” in this joint statement, but it is known to have failed due to opposition from other countries.
The Japanese government plans to release Fukushima-contaminated water into the sea by the end of this summer.
