The Solomon Islands government has expressed ongoing concerns regarding the recent endorsement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of Japan’s proposal to discharge treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, following the 2011 accident.
Dialogue between the Solomon Islands and Japan is taking place through a panel of scientists and experts established by the Pacific Islands Forum. The purpose of this dialogue is to thoroughly examine the scientific aspects of Japan’s plan to release the treated nuclear-contaminated water.
Solomon Islands, along with other countries in the region, is calling on Japan to postpone its decision to dump the radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific has historically been used as a site for nuclear testing and dumping of nuclear waste. The Solomon Islands, as a nuclear-free state and a party to the 1985 Rarotonga Treaty, is committed to maintaining a nuclear-free Pacific.
During the 2022 United Nations General Assembly Meeting in New York, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare reiterated the Solomon Islands’ concerns regarding Japan’s proposal. He emphasized the potential transboundary and intergenerational implications of discharging radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean.
The Solomon Islands’ stance on this issue aligns with the communique issued at the 2022, 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, particularly paragraphs 48. The communique expressed strong concerns about the potential threat of nuclear contamination to the health and security of the Blue Pacific and its people. It also emphasized the importance of international consultation, adherence to international law, and independent and verifiable scientific assessments, as outlined in the PALM9 Declaration.
The Solomon Islands will continue to rely on the scientific assessments conducted by Pacific Islands Forum experts to evaluate the IAEA’s report.
In an exclusive interview with Tavuli News, Japan’s Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Miwa Yoshiake, emphasized the safety of the proposed method. He stated that extensive research and consultations, including discussions with the IAEA, have been conducted.
