Japan-China FM talks over treated water

Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has asked China to respond on a scientific basis to Japan's plan to release treated and diluted water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Hayashi made the request at a meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Friday.

Hayashi explained the Japanese government's plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima plant into the ocean after diluting it to bring down the tritium levels below government safety standards. Hayashi and Wang agreed that the two countries will closely communicate at all levels, including at the leader and foreign minister levels.