China says Japan nuclear water release 'unjust, unreasonable, unnecessary'

China says Japan nuclear water release 'unjust, unreasonable, unnecessary'

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin says that Japan’s push to discharge nuclear wastewater from the stricken Fukushima power plant is 'unjust, unreasonable, and unnecessary'.

Analysts say that while China may have genuine safety concerns, its strong reaction is also at least in part motivated by its economic rivalry and frosty relations with Japan.

The release has been endorsed by the UN's nuclear watchdog -- the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- which said it will have staff on site on 24 August, when the release is set to begin.