'Israel' helping Japan counter Chinese Fukushima claims
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A team of Israeli experts, the 9500 Group, is working with the Japanese government to counter Chinese media reports regarding the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power station, according to Intelligence Online.ra
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Tanks hold treated but still radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, on February 22, 2023. (AP)
According to Intelligence Online, the Israeli 9500 Group is helping the Japanese government to counteract Chinese media reports over the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Beijing criticized the proposal as "extremely irresponsible" when it was unveiled in 2021, and it underlined its objections in July.
Material was disseminated mostly through official Chinese sources such as state media and diplomatic channels, and it expanded through networks of fabricated social media profiles, according to Intelligence Online. The warnings echoed the fears of environmentalists and anti-nuclear activists, as well as Japanese fishing communities, that the tainted water had harmed marine life and would endanger the health of Pacific coastal inhabitants.
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In March 2011, Fukushima suffered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters since Chornobyl after a tsunami rocked the islands.
About 1.33 million cubic meters of groundwater, rainwater, and water that was used for cooling the three damaged reactors at the Fukushima site are now being released.
To remove the radioactive elements, plant operator TEPCO treated the water using its ALPS processing systems, which several neighboring countries have expressed skepticism regarding the system's reliability.
Japan had previously announced that levels of tritium in fish that were sampled after the release of water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant were below detectable levels.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had cleared the operation, stating that the wastewater was radioactively safe.
However, the Japanese government has expressed fears that the media campaign is a joint venture between Russia and China.
Itai Yonat, a former Israeli security official, is the CEO of the 9500 Group, which comprises various enterprises. Intercept 9500, for example, specializes in countering influence efforts, employing a variety of technologies, including those of Majestic Technologies, founded by industry veteran Omri Riter.
Another section, R-Variations, assists governments in developing capabilities to oppose internet influence. These companies are in communication with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is in charge of the foreign interference campaign.
Israeli cyber-intelligence first appeared in Japan during the 2020 Olympic Games, which were rescheduled to 2021 because of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Japanese government gave a number of contracts to Israeli companies, laying the groundwork for a bilateral commercial environment.
