Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 06/2014

Securing China's Nuclear Future

Hui Zhang, Tuosheng Zhang

March 2014

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University

Abstract

China’s approach to the security of its nuclear facilities, materials, and weapons is of paramount concern not only to Chinese leaders and citizens, but to the whole world. China has the fastest growing nuclear energy sector in the world, and a stockpile of nuclear weapons and weapons-useable materials. Although China has strengthened its nuclear security in recent years, and nuclear security has become a concern at the highest level of government, we believe more work is still needed. There are very few public sources that describe China’s nuclear security efforts or suggest steps China could take to improve its current policies. This report is meant to fill that gap. It reviews the evolution of approaches to nuclear security in China, and describes the current status of Chinese nuclear security policies, rules, regulations, and practices. It also recommends steps China should consider to reduce the risk of an act of nuclear or radiological terrorism.