China asks Japan for timely, precise nuclear information

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular briefing on Thursday that Japan is obligated under international conventions to report such information to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

China is urging Japan to swiftly release information about radiation leaks at a damaged nuclear power plant, although it says Tokyo has been in regular contact about the problem.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular briefing on Thursday that Japan is obligated under international conventions to report such information to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ms. Jiang says the agency then forwards the reports to other members, including China.

She says Japan has also kept China informed about measures being taken at the plant.

Worries about radiation spurred panic buying of salt in many parts of China on Thursday on the false belief that it wards off radiation or that future supplies would be contaminated.