By exaggerating the risks from Japan’s discharge of treated wastewater, Beijing hopes to cast Japan and its allies as conspirators in malfeasance, analysts say.
The nuclear plant failed 12 years ago in an earthquake and tsunami, and officials say they have run out of space to store water used to cool the ruined reactors.
The Ukraine war has shown the fragility of Japan’s energy supplies. But the decision to restart plants after the Fukushima disaster is fraught with emotions and political calculation.