Concerns that China could use a meeting of Southeast Asian nations to publicly condemn Japan’s release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant failed to publicly materialize Wednesday, as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida used a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and others to explain Tokyo's position on the discharge.
During an Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three meeting involving top Southeast Asian officials, as well as Kishida, Li and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Japanese prime minister "explained that the data monitored after last month's release has been disclosed promptly and transparently, and that no problems have arisen from a scientific standpoint," Japan's Foreign Ministry said.
Ahead of the meeting, Kishida and Li also held a brief chat, with the prime minister "stressing the importance of building constructive and stable Japan-China relations," the ministry added.