(ECNS)--Japan on Thursday started the third round of release of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.

　　As in the first and second rounds, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said that it will dilute some 7,800 tons of the radioactive wastewater, which still contains tritium, a radioactive substance, with a large amount of seawater before releasing it.

　　Thursday's discharge is the third round of four to be conducted by the end of next March to discharge a total of about 31,200 tons of the water stored in tanks at the nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

　　On October 25, radioactive waste water was splashed onto workers at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which captured public attention. The incident again exposes the long-existing problems with TEPCO’s internal management and its habit of deceiving the public, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, adding that in the past 12 years since the Fukushima nuclear accident, TEPCO’s handling of the aftermath has been highly problematic.

　　There have been several revelations about TEPCO’s delays in reporting and covering up of accidents or tampering with important data, which means the company puts business interests far ahead of environmental safety and people’s health, he added.

　　Right on the next day of the splash incident, TEPCO announced it will soon start the third round of nuclear-contaminated water ocean discharge. How would a company with such a bad record ensure safety and be responsible in the discharge management that will last for 30 years or even longer? How exactly does Japan’s self-claimed “safe and transparent” ocean discharge scheme make people feel safe?