US Puts the Brakes on Nuclear Exports to China: Vice President Joe Biden’s administration has taken many steps to monitor China’s nuclear power plant material and part sales. This is part of a well-planned strategy to defend vital interests. This tightening of regulations is backed by the administration’s unflinching commitment to using these resources peacefully and without atomic weapons.
As these moves are added to a lengthy list of other signals that US-China ties are tight, geopolitics becomes a delicate dance. There are many contrasts between the two countries, from spying and human rights concerns to China’s economic objectives and US limitations on cutting-edge technologies.
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) enforces the harsher rule. Their role is to ensure this. Exporters must obtain licenses before transporting engines, boxes, and software to China’s nuclear plants.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which oversees nuclear energy safety, is developing this regulatory strategy. Exports must get NRC authorization before transporting sensitive nuclear or source materials. Because deuterium is abundant, reactors that manufacture tritium for nuclear weapons worry about using it. These contain numerous types of uranium and deuterium.
The Biden administration, which prioritizes national security, believes these changes will improve the combined military and security environment, according to the NRC.
A U.S. source stated that these Monday actions are part of a larger shift in U.S.-China relations. This differs from external signals. The NRC has often stated that neither purchasers nor China did anything unique to require this regulation adjustment. This is part of the government’s bigger effort to control select Chinese exports.
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US-based Chinese government official Liu Pengyu spoke carefully but firmly. China would always follow international norms for not producing WMDs, according to Liu Pengyu. He stated China follows the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, but he didn’t specify. He added that China opposes prioritizing regional concerns over nuclear disarmament.
Regulation canvas is created from a quantifiable effect perspective. The NRC staffer said few exporters have requested general licenses to transport these items to China. This feature limits the effect to a narrow area, so it doesn’t affect much. Only two controlled nuclear items were shipped with a general license last year.
Still, opinions vary. Non-proliferation expert Edwin Lyman argues these modifications’ symbolic meaning is more important than their actual meaning. He doesn’t think China will cease making nuclear bombs. The year before, the Pentagon predicted China will have many more nuclear weapons by 2035. This illustrates how cautious the administration is regarding bomb growth.
As increasingly sophisticated laws emerge, the administration appears to be abandoning the premise that China’s nuclear power facilities are safe and peaceful. The Nonproliferation Policy Education Center’s Henry Sokolski explains best. He argues this rule proves that China’s nuclear programs are no longer safe only because they’re being done.
Westinghouse has four AP1000 reactors in China, demonstrating business change. China has reactors. President Trump restricted the sale of nuclear reactor technologies beyond the AP1000 in 2018. Fears about proliferation prompted this. Westinghouse hasn’t commented on the new U.S. laws, so it’s unclear how they will effect the company.
Our Reader’s Queries
Is the NRC suspending general license for exports of most materials to China?
On August 14, 2023, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) made an announcement in the Federal Register. The announcement stated that the general license to export special nuclear material, source material, and deuterium for nuclear end use to China has been suspended.
Why did the US stop using nuclear energy?
Concerned about the risks of nuclear accidents and weapons proliferation, environmental organizations began advocating for governments to halt the construction of new power plants. In response, the US government implemented a slew of safety regulations that significantly increased the cost of building and operating these facilities, sometimes by as much as two to three times the original estimate.
Where does China get its nuclear fuel?
China has achieved self-sufficiency in the majority of its fuel cycle operations. The country’s goal is to generate one-third of its uranium domestically, acquire another third through foreign equity in mines and joint ventures abroad, and purchase the remaining third on the open market.
How much does China rely on nuclear energy?
As per the data provided by China’s National Bureau of Statistics, nuclear power only contributed to a meager 2.2% of the total installed electricity generation capacity in the country by the end of 2022.