From Chinese Press

Japan should act fast

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-04-13 07:55

Japan has now been forced to release radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The situation at the Fukushima plant is deteriorating and has exposed Japan's inefficient handling of the crisis, says an article in Guangzhou Daily. Excerpts:

The Japanese government's response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis after the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami has not been efficient. It has failed to control the situation and, as the developments show, it had not taken proper preventive measures.

The release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean may not harm Japan's neighboring countries and marine life immediately, but uncertainty and worries linger over how Japan will process the highly contaminated water later.

Besides, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which used to operate the Fukushima plant, has failed to handle the crisis professionally. The selective and sometimes conflicting information that TEPCO has released puts a question mark on its competence.

In fact, TEPCO underestimated the effects of the accident and failed to send teams to the site in time to deal with the situation.

The poor cooperation between the Japanese government and TEPCO has resulted in the slow response to the crisis.

Despite the Japanese government's efforts to minimize the impact of the crisis, farm products and water have been affected by radioactive leaks, triggering public panic.

The way Japan has handled the crisis has stained its international image. Hence, it should take all necessary measures to defuse the crisis and take TEPCO to task.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/13/2011 page9)