Japan releases treated Fukushima water into Pacific, sparking international uproar

Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, a controversial move that has sparked fierce international backlash, including from China, which responded by promptly issuing a blanket ban on all fish and aquatic products from Japan.

China is "highly concerned about the risk of radioactive contamination" brought by Japan's food and agricultural products, China's customs bureau said in a statement Thursday.

Release of the wastewater began at 1:03 p.m. local time, according to plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, which said it...