We Say: Fukushima issue shows Pacific Islands Forum cracks
Since 2021, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has been engaged in slow but steady diplomacy to delay and ultimately halt the planned ocean dumping of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
IAEA chief to visit South Korea, Cook Islands, NZ over Japan’s treated nuclear plant water
The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plans to visit South Korea, the Cook Islands and New Zealand in July, regarding the ocean discharge of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear
IAEA urged not to endorse Japan’s water dumping plan
China urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday not to endorse Japan’s plan to discharge polluted radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific
Fukushima nuclear plant operator says equipment to release treated wastewater into sea is complete
All equipment needed for the release into the sea of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant has been completed and will be ready for a safety inspection by Japanese regulators this week,
Japan’s Fukushima wastewater plan is safe, says expert on Pacific islands panel
Fish that swim in treated wastewater from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant would be safe to eat, according to an expert who is part of the Pacific islands scientific panel that criticised Japan’s plan to
Palau President Whipps supports Japan’s plan to release treated wastewater into Pacific Ocean
Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr is the first Pacific Island country leader to publicly express support for Japan’s plan to release treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific. After meeting with Japan’s
Palau president visits Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has called on Japan to raise the transparency of the decommissioning process at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Whipps made the statement on Tuesday in a meeting
Japan, Australia, U.S to fund undersea cable connection in Micronesia to counter China’s influence
Japan announced Tuesday that it joined the United States and Australia in signing a US$95 million undersea cable project that will connect East Micronesia island nations to improve networks in the Indo-Pacific region
Japan sends seawater into tunnel built for Fukushima nuke wastewater discharge
Japan has started sending seawater into an underwater tunnel built to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, local media reported on Tuesday. Tokyo
IAEA: Japan’s measurements of Fukushima treated water accurate and precise
Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS), has demonstrated its capabilities for accurate and precise measurements of the radionuclides present in
Fukushima seafood businesses adapt as treated water release looms
With the release of treated water from the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture looming, embattled seafood businesses in the region fear fresh reputational damage to their products, Takaki Tominaga writes. By
Japan’s fukushima water release plan falls short of full G7 support
Japan has failed to secure unanimous support from the Group of Seven (G7) for its planned release of radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean later this year due to opposition
New images from inside Fukushima reactor spark safety worry
Images captured by a robotic probe inside one of the three melted reactors at Japan’s wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant showed exposed steel bars in the main supporting structure and parts of its thick
China urges Japan to heed concerns on water disposal
China urges Japan to take seriously the legitimate concerns of all parties, and dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, open, transparent and safe manner, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin
Guam, Saipan anticipate surge in travel demand from Japan
Slowing reemerging from their Covid-triggered hiatus, Japanese travelers are getting ready to board the plane again, with Guam and Saipan on top of their destination list this summer. The promising summer travel demand
Japan insists release of Fukushima ‘treated’ water is safe
Almost 12 years have passed since the strongest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history resulted in a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people along its north-east coast. As the country prepares to mark the March 11
Pacific leaders address wastewater plan in Japan this week
Pacific leaders are in Japan this week meeting with their Japanese counterparts on the Fukushima wastewater plans. Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Marshall
Transparency has eased Fukushima water concerns: Panuelo
Micronesian President David Panuelo said Friday that Japan’s “transparency” over its intention to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has helped ease the Pacific
Japan offers to meet Pacific leaders over ocean dumping plan
A month away from the expected discharge of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, Japan has offered to meet a high-level delegation from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in its attempt to assure that the
Japan eyes delay of Fukushima plant water release
Japan has revised the timing of a planned release to the sea of treated but still radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear power plant to “around spring or summer,” indicating a delay from the initial target
Opinion: Japan must work with the Pacific to find a solution to the Fukushima water release issue – otherwise we face disaster
Over the past 20 months, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members have been in dialogue with the government of Japan on its proposed plans to release over a million tonnes of contaminated nuclear wastewater into
Impact of Japan’s wastewater plan will be ‘devastating’: Moss-Christian
The newly appointed executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) tasked to take on the cause of protecting the world’s tuna stocks has raised alarm by Japan’s plan to release
U.S., Japan back Australia’s Digicel Pacific purchase
The U.S. and Japan have announced they will back the Australian government’s unprecedented move to fund Telstra’s purchase of the Pacific’s largest telco, stumping up around $150 million (US$100