The Nuclear Security Summitand Safe Development of China's Nuclear Energy

By Xu Yu



The Nuclear Security Summitand Safe Development of China's Nuclear Energy

By Xu Yu

China Institute of Atomic Information

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data, from 1993 to 2011, there were over 20 cases of smuggling or illegal transfer of highly enriched uranium and plutonium globally. With the extensive application of nuclear power, access to nuclear materials increases further, the preventive tasks of nuclear terrorism get more arduous and complicated, nuclear safety issues increasingly become the focus of attention of the international community.

China always attaches great importance to the issue of nuclear safety, is opposed to nuclear terrorism, actively supports the strengthening of international cooperation, and has made remarkable achievements by earnestly participating in and promoting international nuclear security activities,

I. Reviewing the Past Summit Process

With rapid recovery and development of nuclear power industry, nuclear materials and nuclear technology application get more extensive, the risks of nuclear fuel diffusion and loss also increase. The international security situation has become more and more complex, the access to and trafficking of nuclear materials, even the risks of nuclear terrorism by terrorists and transnational criminal organizations cannot be ignored. Although the probability of terrorist use of nuclear material to attack is very small, yet, once an attack happens, consequences are unimaginable. In April 2009, President Obama called for carrying out an action in the next four years to come, i.e. holding a nuclear security summit in order to further ensure security of all nuclear materials around the world. The Chinese Government actively responds to President Obama's initiative.

(1) Global collaboration to pool wisdom for nuclear safety

In 12-13 April 2010, then President Hu Jintao personally led a delegation to attend the first Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C., which discussed the threats of nuclear terrorism, countermeasures by countries and the international community as well as the IAEA role in the field of nuclear safety, issued the "Communique of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit" and "Work Plan of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit", and confirmed the legally binding importance of "International Convention for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism" and "The Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material" as a response to the nuclear terrorist threats and the peaceful use of nuclear materials in terms of physical protection.

At the Washington Summit, President Hu Jintao, proceeding from a strategic and long-term perspective of building international consensus, promoting international cooperation, and maintaining international security, presented China’s policy and practice on nuclear safety in a speech entitled "Work Together to Address Nuclear Security Challenges and Jointly Promote Peace and Development", and put forward five propositions: to genuinely honor national commitments and responsibilities for nuclear security; to consolidate the existing international legal framework on nuclear safety; to strengthen international cooperation; to truly help China enhance nuclear security capacity; to handle properly the relationship between nuclear security and peaceful use of nuclear energy, which won commendable responses in the international community.

The first Summit built consensus and is committed to reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism through responsible national actions and sustained and effective international cooperation.

(2) Deepen cooperation in nuclear safety tangibly

The DPRK’s and Iran’s hot spots issues, the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, etc. make the international community pay more attention to the security of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities.

In 26-27 March 2012, the Second Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul, which discussed ensuring nuclear materials and nuclear power safety, preventing nuclear and radiological terrorism, and strengthening the safety management of physical nuclear facilities. The Seoul Summit took the safety of nuclear power, nuclear facilities and nuclear materials altogether into consideration. The Summit issued a Joint Declaration of Seoul, putting forward the concrete practice, strengthening the management of radioactive substance, and jointly prevent nuclear material trafficking, etc..

Governments of various countries honor commitments of the Washington Summit, and carry out effective international cooperation. The Seoul Summit further built international consensus on nuclear security, and identified the working principles of deepening international cooperation and pursuing effectiveness.

The Chinese Government has actively implemented the Washington Summit commitments, and made a great contribution to the international community. At the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, then Chinese President Hu Jintao, delivered a speech entitled "Deepening Cooperation to Improve Nuclear Safety Level", and put forward four-point propositions: to adhere to the scientific and rational concept of nuclear security, and enhance confidence in nuclear energy development; to strengthen nuclear security capacity building, and to take the state responsibility for nuclear safety; to deepen international exchanges and cooperation; to comprehensively manage both the symptoms and root causes to eliminate nuclear proliferation. The important role of China in the global nuclear security field and its outstanding contribution to the world are positively affirmed by international media.

II. Achieve National Upgrade to Devote To International Community

In the new international security situation, China follows a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, cooperation as the core, and actively advocates to achieve comprehensive security, common security and cooperative security. In order to achieve comprehensive peaceful use of nuclear power, China and the international community deepen cooperation, enhance the global nuclear safety level, and build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Then Chinese President Hu Jintao twice attended the Nuclear Security Summit and delivered important speeches, which reflects great importance to nuclear safety issues attached by China. China is firmly opposed to any form of nuclear weapons proliferation with a highly responsible and constructive attitude, earnestly fulfills its international obligations, and actively participates in international non-proliferation efforts. China has acceded to all relevant international treaties and the mechanism, established a comprehensive legal system for export control, and taken effective measures to ensure its implementation. China has always been committed to strengthening the national nuclear security capacity building, strictly honored its international nuclear security obligations, carried out extensive international cooperation, and actively provided nuclear security assistance.

China, as a responsible big country, has actively taken nuclear safety measures to ensure the safety of its nuclear materials and facilities, deeply involved in relevant international cooperation, strengthened supervision and inspection, eliminated security risks, improved the overall level of nuclear safety, honored the relevant international conventions, developed and improved the supporting laws and regulations system, improved and optimized the mechanism of nuclear safety management.1

(1) Gradually increase the level of nuclear safety management

After the Fukushima accident, the Chinese Government has taken a series of safety measures, and upgraded the Nuclear Power Office of National Energy Administration, and expanded the staff for Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of Ministry of Environmental Resources Protection.

After the Fukushima emergency, China conducts a comprehensive inspection of safety situation of the national nuclear facilities, and has formulated the "Twelfth-Five Year Program on Prevention and Management of Nuclear Safety and Radioactive Pollution and the 2020 Prospects " (the Twelfth-Five Year Program and the 2020 Prospects) in accordance with the requirements for improvement, has further implemented and enhanced the level of nuclear safety management. In addition, China has strengthened the safety management of the radiation source and radioactive wastes, and promoted the building of national radioactive source database.

(2) International cooperation has made substantive progress

The construction of Nuclear Security Demonstration Center is in smooth progress, which is effective promotion and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Nuclear Security Demonstration Center signed by China and the United States. The Demonstration Center is mainly responsible for personnel training, technology R&D, international exchange, etc., covering multiple areas of nuclear safety, protection and supervision, nuclear material control, the physical protection, etc. In addition, the Sino-U.S. joint project of The Radiation Detection Training Center is put into operation, which further enhances China’s capacity for preventing the smuggling of nuclear materials.

(3) Continuously improve the legal system for nuclear safety

China has ratified the amended "Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material" and "International Convention for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorist Acts", and accelerated the process to enact and improve the relevant supportive laws and regulations. China strictly performs the provisions and obligations of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1540, and No. 1887, takes measures to prevent non-state actors from acquiring illegal access to nuclear materials and other radioactive materials. In addition, China actively participates in meetings of the IAEA "Nuclear Safety Convention" and "The Joint Convention On Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Safety Of Radioactive Wastes Management" and other performing activities.

(4) Firmly ensure nuclear security for public activities

China has ensured nuclear safety for the large-scale public gatherings and related facilities. In recent years, China has hosted the Shanghai Expo, Guangzhou Asian Games and other major international events. To ensure these activities carried out smoothly and prevent nuclear terrorism, China adopts a series of effective measures, including development of new nuclear safety equipments, increasing efforts for the relevant place’s nuclear detection and inspection, promoting application of nuclear safety equipments, and carrying out extensive and in-depth exchanges with international community regarding the experiences.

(5) Provide foreign aid continuously in area of nuclear security and nuclear safety

Promoting cooperation with the IAEA, China has held many regional nuclear security training courses, provided training for nearly 100 personnel for more than 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and; the Sino-U.S. Nuclear Security Demonstration Center to be completed in 2015 will become the world's largest and the most advanced nuclear security and training center. China actively donates to IAEA nuclear security fund, which supports the nuclear security capacity building for China and other Asian countries, and will continue to provide the support. The established China-Japan-ROK nuclear power security cooperation mechanism advocated by China has made positive contributions to upgrading nuclear power safety and nuclear security level in the region.

III. Nuclear Safety Is the Foundation of the Safe Development of Nuclear Power

The Twelfth-Five Year Plan Outline on National Economic And Social Development adopted by the Fourth Session of 11th NPC in March 2011 provides a high-efficient development of nuclear power on the basis of ensuring safety.

The safe and high-efficient development of nuclear power must be built on the solid foundation of nuclear safety. Undoubtedly, nuclear safety is the lifeline of the safe development of nuclear energy. Nuclear security and nuclear power safety cover all fields of nuclear energy development at different levels, and should comply with the historical trend and era requirements of nuclear energy development, and be closely linked with nuclear energy development, and seek practical results. If nuclear safety problems are not handled properly, it is impossible to ensure safe and high-efficient development of nuclear energy.

Nuclear security and nuclear power safety are a matter of national security and development issues. After Fukushima nuclear accident, various countries and international organizations take measures, carry out security checks or stress testing on the existing reactors, and fully absorb the Fukushima accident lessons, further improve the nuclear safety regulations and standards, and adjust their national development planning according to their own reality.

Since the Washington Nuclear Security Summit, China has absorbed rich experience of the international society in nuclear security. Especially after the Fukushima accident, China further stresses the "safety first" approach in the process of planning, designing, construction, operation, management, R&D, retirement and all related sectors.

Both Nuclear Power Development Plan (2011-2020) and Nuclear Safety Plan (2011-2020) stipulate clearly that the new nuclear power projects should apply the world highest safety standards. China has also formulated the New Nuclear Plant Safety Requirements During The Twelfth-Five Year Plan (Draft) and issued the Nuclear Power Plants To Improve General Technical Action Requirements After Fukushima Nuclear Accident (Trial), and The Twelfth-Five Year Program and the 2020 Prospects, proposes to strive to establish a relatively complete nuclear and radiation safety regulations and standards system by the end of the Twelfth-Five Year Plan

China, on the base of the existing nuclear safety supervision mechanisms, establishes and improves a system further featuring the on-site supervision and inspection, event analysis, and independent safety review, enriches the nuclear safety regulatory means, builds a mechanism to respond to and guide the public opinion so as to ensure a complete law and regulation system in place. To rationally allocate regulatory resources, the relevant laws must be strictly followed and all wrongdoings be held accountable.

China further improves the safety management system, uses the risk management techniques to periodically take regular comprehensive assessment on nuclear facilities and nuclear materials, and to effectively prevent and control various risks; establishes a nuclear safety culture system, organizes nuclear safety culture assessment activities, strengthens education and propagation, continuously improves employee consciousness regarding law observance, rigorous and meticulous and paying great attention to safety so as to formulate a sound nuclear safety culture; at the same time, strengthens the nuclear power safety publicity, and raises the public awareness.

Actively promote the construction of nuclear emergency command centers, attain the interconnection of emergency information management platforms at different levels, and build a nuclear emergency command decision-making system featuring comprehensive functions, sensitive reaction, and efficient operation.

IV. Look Forward to the Future

(1)Concerns of Holland Nuclear Security Summit issues

More than 50 heads of state and of four international organizations (EU, IAEA, INTERPOL, UN), together with about 5000 representatives and 3000 journalists are expected to attend The Third Nuclear Security Summit in Holland in 2014 2 , which mainly focuses the following six aspects:

(a) Optimize the safety and possibly reduce the use of the high enriched uranium and plutonium.

(b) Urge the parties to the "Convention on the Physical Protection Of Nuclear Fuel" (Amended Edition) to ratify it as soon as possible.

(c) Regular review of the nuclear material security by the IAEA Advisory Group.

(d) Protect the high level radioactive sources (such as medical equipment) from the national perspective.

(e) Give enterprises greater role in nuclear safety, and further improve the safety culture and the existing laws and regulations.

(f) Show properly protected nuclear facilities and materials, these confidence building measures of which raise the credit of various countries in the international nuclear security mechanism.

In addition, other international concerns are as follows: (g) Will a nuclear power plant after the terrorist attacks cause a nuclear explosion? (h) How difficult could terrorists get nuclear material ? (I) If terrorists have nuclear materials, are they able to make a real bomb?

(2) Get well prepared for the Holland Summit

At present, China is actively preparing for the Holland Nuclear Security Summit on March 24-25, 2014. China values the IAEA leadership role in the field of nuclear security, emphasizes review and advisory services the IAEA provides through a variety of mechanisms, and encourages greater technical and financial support.

China, along with the extensive location of nuclear facilities, and increasing use of nuclear radioactive materials, is also faced with various forms of terrorist threats, and other nuclear security vulnerabilities or spill-over of a safety accident. So China will take further nuclear security measures.

(3) Looking forward to the future trend after the 2016 Washington Summit

In 2016 the fourth Nuclear Security Summit will be held in Washington D.C. Whether to establish a global nuclear security mechanism after the fourth Summit, according to the Holland summit website reports, 90% of the existing nuclear materials used in nuclear weapons while only 10% for nuclear power industry. Thus, the world nuclear security situation is still very grim, and it is imperative to strengthen nuclear security.

To strengthen nuclear security is a continuous improvement process. After the Summit, we need to establish a flexible nuclear security framework of sustainable development, completely prohibit and thoroughly destroy nuclear weapons, which will release large amounts of nuclear material for the benefit of human nuclear energy development, and genuinely achieve the comprehensively peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy.

Notes:

1. www. fmprc.gov/mfa.chn.

2. ww.nss2014com/cn.