Environment Japan to release treated Fukushima water into the sea

[Majestic]

With a half-life of 12 years, half of the tritium from the original meltdowns is already gone.
That article says it will take 3 decades to release all of the water, by which time most of the remaining tritium will have already decayed. It's not a good look for China to be freaking out over this. They are in the strange position of wanting to lead the world in technology and science, but they have to play stupid in order to gin up domestic hysteria over this wastewater issue. The potential harm from this wastewater has to be several magnitudes less than the potential harm from the hundreds of new coal-burning power plants being built in China.

 

[thomas]

China has delayed its payments to the IAEA to put pressure on Japan:

Some Western diplomatic sources in Vienna, home to the IAEA, see the move as an attempt by China to apply pressure to oppose Japan's release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which the IAEA approved in July. The IAEA, a United Nations organization responsible for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, is funded by euro and U.S. dollar contributions from member countries. According to a Sept. 22 IAEA report, China, which has the second-largest yearly contribution after the U.S. at about $65 million, had withheld payment of the entire amount. Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, the U.K., Australia, India, South Korea, Russia and other major countries had paid their contributions in full by that day. Of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China was the only nation that had not paid anything. China has since contributed about half the amount, according to sources at the IAEA.

However, it's not only China resorting to financial blackmail:

There is deep-rooted skepticism in the U.S. about granting money to international organizations, and it has tried to pressure organizations in the past by delaying payments. As of Sept. 22, the U.S. had paid only about one-quarter of the roughly $113 million it owes the IAEA. Up to now, China has strongly criticized the U.S. for not paying its share at the United Nations and other forums. However, as it is now a major contributor, Beijing may be following Washington's example in trying to use withheld payments as leverage.

Paywall alert:

China delays payments to IAEA amid Fukushima water release

Beijing may be withholding 2nd-largest contribution share to apply pressure

asia.nikkei.com