China’s response to Japan’s release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant confounds me.
I understand the logic: Put Japan on the defensive and try to rally regional discontent behind Beijing. That tactic won’t work, however. Tokyo won’t change course and failure to move Japan will make the Chinese government look petulant and weak.
Moreover, it provides Japan an opening to promote transparency and leadership on an issue — radiation monitoring — that affects the entire region. This effort could make China look even worse.