A government-back disinformation campaign about Japan’s release of treated radioactive water may be behind the anger in China, reports suggest. Hamsini Hariharan, a China expert with Logically, said it is “quite evident that this is politically motivated.” The misleading information, she added, has fueled public outcry. Among the disinformation circulating Chinese social media is a prominent claim that Japan’s decision to avoid reusing the treated water proves that it is dangerous to consume. The AFCL (Asia Fact Check Lab) said this is false as the treated water is seawater and therefore unsafe to drink in the long-term. The Advanced Liquid Processing System behind the treatment can only remove radioactive substances — not desalinate water. The alleged misinformation has resulted in adverse consequences for Japan, and Japanese nationals living in China. As Beijing bans Japanese seafood imports — insisting they are no longer safe after the discharge — there has been mass panic buying...