China on Friday expressed concern over Japan's move to discharge radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

The plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) released 11,500 tonnes of low radioactive water into the sea earlier this week, amid efforts to resume control over the reactors severely damaged by the March 11 quake and tsunami.

The Japanese side has informed China about the event and China "is naturally concerned" as a close neighbor, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Hong urged Japan to act in line with relative international laws and take substantial measures to protect the ocean environment.

China is closely watching the situation, conducting monitoring and keeping in contact with the Japanese side, Hong said.

He urged Japan to provide timely, comprehensive and accurate information to China.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2011)