FM: Japan's compensation to fishing industry proves dangerous nuclear polluted water

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday that the Japanese government's attempt to buy silence from its people with money while turning a blind eye to the safety of people in neighboring countries and Pacific Island nations will only lead to stronger questioning and opposition from the international community.

Wang made the remarks at a regular news briefing in Beijing after media reports said Japan has set up a special fund of 80 billion yen ($578.1 million) to subsidize the fishing industry in Fukushima, where the disabled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant is located.

"If there is no problem with the nuclear polluted water that Japan plans to discharge into the sea, then why would the fishing industry in Fukushima be affected? If the Japanese government does not feel guilty about the discharge plan, then why has it prepared compensation fees to pacify people? This can only mean that there are indeed significant problems," Wang said.

The spokesman said that it is regrettable that the Japanese government has turned a deaf ear to strong opposition from its own people and people from countries along the Pacific coast including China, South Korea, Russia, Pacific Island countries, the Philippines, Indonesia and Peru.