Japan says China, S. Korea released water with high levels of tritium

Japan said Thursday that China and South Korea have both discharged liquid waste containing high levels of tritium, a radioactive material, countering Beijing’s criticism of Tokyo’s plan to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also said Japan will explain to China “based on scientific perspectives” the planned water discharge into the sea from the nuclear complex, crippled by a devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami in March 2011.

Japan’s standard for the release of tritium, at below 22 trillion becquerels per year, is far s...