This isn't an isolated case. As we explored Western social media posts over a week, a larger pattern emerged. We found that any information that went against Japan's interests was followed by a context pop-up.
Actually, Japan itself appeared to have launched a large-scale disinformation campaign. The context notice is utilizing the community's rules to mislead those who are unfamiliar with the situation to downplay its contaminated water release.
The Western media has been relatively quiet about Japan's release of nuclear-contaminated water, but they have actively reported on China's response. The Wall Street Journal noted that anti-Japanese sentiment is increasing in China, while CNN suggested China is leveraging the situation for political gain. The BBC reported China's actions as retaliatory.
Japan refers to it as ALPS（Advanced Liquid Processing System）treated water. Japan argues the water has been treated with all radionuclides removed except tritium and C-14. The Western media follows the Japanese government's narrative, describing it as treated nuclear wastewater.
According to IAEA, from 1946 to 1993, the US, the UK, France and others disposed of over 200,000 metric tons of solid nuclear waste into the ocean. The US alone has released an astounding 190,000 cubic meters of radioactive materials into the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Furthermore, this doesn't account for the pollution resulting from the 67 nuclear tests conducted by the US in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958.
1953年，日本水俣镇一家化工厂排放的废水污染鱼类，造成超900人丧生。
In 1953, the discharge of wastewater from a chemical plant in the town of Minamata city contaminated fish. And more than 900 people died.
In 1993, Japan, with the help of the US, forced Russia to stop discharging radioactive waste into the sea from scrapped nuclear submarines. Ironically, Japan now plans to discharge over 15 times the amount Russia planned to.
导读
日本启动核污水排海，中国立即颁布“水产进口禁令”，但中国保护消费者健康的举措却被日本与西方媒体指责为中国“过度反应”。
海外社交媒体上，一场针对中国的舆论战正在打响。不利于“日本核污水排放”的信息会被弹窗提示“假消息”；大量文章假借氚含量之名颠倒黑白；日本驻华使馆公开指责中国民众骚扰日本。
中国日报起底工作室研究了相关报道，发现污水排海的始作俑者是日本，西方却把矛头指向了中国。
言论管控：社交媒体的蓄意误导
在社交媒体平台"X" （前推特）上搜索有关日本福岛核电站核污水排放信息时，中国日报起底工作室记者点开一条“核电站排放的常规废水与福岛核电站核污染水之间区别”的科普性推文，但发现它被标记为“中国虚假信息”。记者仔细了解后发现，之所以被标记为虚假信息，是因为图示中没有包含日本ALPS废水处理系统。
此种情况并非个例。起底工作室在西方社交媒体上对过去一周日本核污水排海的相关帖文进行检索，发现此类提示已成“规律性内容”，即任何不利于日本核污水排海的信息都会标注类似的提示信息。
This isn't an isolated case. As we explored Western social media posts over a week, a larger pattern emerged. We found that any information that went against Japan's interests was followed by a context pop-up.
实际上，这是日本正在发动的一场大规模虚假信息行动。日本利用社交媒体规则的漏洞误导那些不了解情况的人，试图通过这样的提示信息弱化其核污染水排放带来的恶劣影响。
Actually, Japan itself appeared to have launched a large-scale disinformation campaign. The context notice is utilizing the community's rules to mislead those who are unfamiliar with the situation to downplay its contaminated water release.
一丘之貉：日本背后的西方媒体
再看西方媒体的态度。西方媒体对日本排放核污水保持相对沉默，转而对中国合理的应对措施进行歪曲报道。《华尔街日报》称中国反日情绪日益高涨，美国有线电视新闻网则认为中国正在利用这一事件谋求政治利益，英国广播公司报道称中方的行动具有报复性。
The Western media has been relatively quiet about Japan's release of nuclear-contaminated water, but they have actively reported on China's response. The Wall Street Journal noted that anti-Japanese sentiment is increasing in China, while CNN suggested China is leveraging the situation for political gain. The BBC reported China's actions as retaliatory.
这些报道试图在日本排放核污水问题上让中国以负面形象出现，但事实上，排放核污染水的是日本而不是中国。
报复打击：“政治化”中国禁令
在日本政府近期的政治文宣预算中，近700亿日元用于反击“不实信息”。除此之外，日本政府甚至使用人工智能技术对核污染水排放有关报道进行监视。值得注意的是，该项预算几乎是其核污水排放项目本身预算的20倍。
日本的核污染水究竟是何种性质？
日本政府将其称为“ALPS”处理水，即他们排放的是经由所谓“多核素处理系统”处理过的污水，辩称这些水已经经过处理，去除了除氚和碳14外所有放射性核素。西方媒体效仿日本政府的口径，也将其描述为“经过处理”的核废水。
Japan refers to it as ALPS（Advanced Liquid Processing System）treated water. Japan argues the water has been treated with all radionuclides removed except tritium and C-14. The Western media follows the Japanese government's narrative, describing it as treated nuclear wastewater.
事实上，核废水指的是核电站在正常运行中产生的废水，如核反应堆冷却水。它不会直接接触核反应堆芯内的核燃料及核反应物，经处理后就可以通过管道安全排出。
而日本排向大海的应当是“核污染水”。核污染水指的是发生核事故后，核反应堆的保护外壳破裂，冷却水直接接触反应堆中放射性物质。冷却水受到高度放射性物质的污染，变为核污染水。核污染水中含有钚、铯等数十种放射性物质，对人体和环境危害严重，致癌、致畸、致突变。
图片来源@_bubblyabby_
除了坚称其排放的核污水无害，日本政府还炒作中国的核废水排放，称中国核电站排放废水中的氚含量比福岛排放的核污染水更高。这种说法极具误导性，因为该观点对比的是核电站正常运行排出的核废水，两者根本不具有可比性。
This is misleading, as it draws parallels to water discharged from standard reactors.
与此同时，整个过程还缺乏独立的第三方监督机制对ALPS“处理水”进行监测。若太平洋海域周边国家、太平洋岛国、渔业团体、环保组织等利益攸关方不能参与监督，日方一口咬定所谓“处理水”没问题就是自说自话。
8月24日，日本启动福岛核污染水排海后，中国驻日本大使馆部分馆员个人电话接到大量显示为日本当地打来的骚扰电话。一些人在电话中情绪激动，言语用词极具攻击性。与此同时，使馆部分传真机也收到内容十分激进的信件。部分右翼反华势力来使馆大门前滋扰闹事，使馆正常办公秩序受到很大影响。对此，使馆已强烈要求日本政府及警方切实采取措施予以应对。
然而，西方媒体上却很少出现有关中国大使馆和公民收到日本骚扰电话的内容。
起底工作室在此也提醒在日中国公民及企业时刻注意自身安全，如遇突发事件第一时间同领区使领馆取得联系。
回顾：伤痕累累的历史
回溯历史，日本此次排核污水入海事件其实并非全球首例。
据国际原子能机构统计，从1946年到1993年，美国、英国、法国等国家向海洋倾倒了超20万吨固体核废料。仅美国一个国家，就将高达19万立方米的放射性物质排入了北大西洋和太平洋，这还不包括1946年至1958年期间，美国在马绍尔群岛进行的67次核试验造成的污染。
According to IAEA, from 1946 to 1993, the US, the UK, France and others disposed of over 200,000 metric tons of solid nuclear waste into the ocean. The US alone has released an astounding 190,000 cubic meters of radioactive materials into the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Furthermore, this doesn't account for the pollution resulting from the 67 nuclear tests conducted by the US in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958.
1953年，日本水俣镇一家化工厂排放的废水污染鱼类，造成超900人丧生。
In 1953, the discharge of wastewater from a chemical plant in the town of Minamata city contaminated fish. And more than 900 people died.
1993年，在美国的帮助下，日本迫使俄罗斯停止向海洋中排放报废核潜艇放射性废料的行为。讽刺的是，如今日本计划的排放量是俄罗斯当时计划排放量的15倍以上。
In 1993, Japan, with the help of the US, forced Russia to stop discharging radioactive waste into the sea from scrapped nuclear submarines. Ironically, Japan now plans to discharge over 15 times the amount Russia planned to.