The Battle for Public Opinion of “Japan’s Nuclear Wastewater Sea Discharge”

Abstract

The Japanese government’s decision to drain nuclear waste into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which is set to begin in 2023, could stymie geopolitical cooperation and collaboration, as well as the risk of radioactive elements in the wastewater having an incalculable impact on the planet’s ecology and human society. Using qualitative content analysis, this article evaluates the history of the Japanese nuclear wastewater disaster, as well as support and opposition voices from other countries, academia, and civil society organizations. It explains how China may use the “policy + public opinion” system of governments and non-governmental organizations to defend its interests in international public opinion and eventually gain worldwide discourse power that matches China’s strength.