Japan Stands Firm on Treated Wastewater Disposal at ASEAN Summit, While China Moderates Its Stance

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum (AIPF) as part of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on Sept. 6, 2023. Adek Berry/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed his nation’s longstanding policy on the controlled release of treated radioactive wastewater during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sept. 6.

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang softened his rhetoric on the issue, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the two nations.