TOKYO, Japan: Japan said on Tuesday that the harassment Japanese people faced in China following the release of water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant was “extremely deplorable”, confirming that a brick had been thrown at the country’s embassy in Beijing.
Last week, China banned all seafood imports from its neighbour as Japan began discharging treated sewage from a crippled factory in Operation Tokyo and the United Nations nuclear watchdog declared it safe.
After the row and facing China’s anger, Japan has asked its citizens residing in China to keep a low profile and has increased security around schools and diplomatic missions.
Japan’s foreign minister on Tuesday confirmed media reports that a brick had been thrown at his embassy in Beijing, echoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s calls to China on Monday to take measures to calm the situation.
“It is extremely regrettable and disturbing,” Joshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo.
“We would like to again call on the Chinese government to take appropriate measures immediately, such as calling on its citizens to act calmly and prevent the situation from escalating, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of the Japanese people and our diplomatic missions in China,” he said.
He added that China should “provide accurate information” about the Fukushima water leak “and not needlessly worry people by providing information without any scientific basis.”
A spokesman for the Japanese embassy in Beijing told AFP that staff were “extremely concerned”.
“Some individuals came to our (embassy) entrance,” the spokeswoman said.
“They carried out these kinds of actions and then they were taken away by armed police.”
Asked on Monday what action Beijing would take against stone-throwing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China “always protects the security and legitimate rights and interests of foreigners in China in accordance with the law.”
“We strongly urge the Japanese side to face the legitimate concerns of all parties, immediately stop the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, fully consult with its neighbors and other stakeholders, and seriously dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a responsible manner,” Wang said at a regular briefing.
