China joins water sample analysis at Japan nuclear plant for 1st time

Tokyo, Feb 21 (KYODO): The U.N. nuclear watchdog collected samples of treated radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Friday, with China participating for the first time.

Japan and China have agreed to Beijing's involvement in the sampling and analysis of the discharged water under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The latest move is part of efforts to facilitate China's resumption of Japanese seafood imports, government officials said.

In addition to the IAEA, Chinese, South Korean, Swiss and French analysts joined the activity. On Friday, liquid samples were taken from a tank at the site, where treated water is stored before being diluted with seawater.

Some reactors at the Fukushima power plant experienced core meltdowns following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami in March 2011. The operator began releasing treated radioactive water from the plant into the sea in August 2023, triggering a backlash from China.