WASHINGTON: The US military warned that China was progressing in its development process floating nuclear reactors In South China Sea suspending its claims to the disputed maritime territory, which analysts say would pose an environmental threat, Voice of America (VOA) reports.
According to analysts, the plan to build ships equipped with mobile nuclear energy sources would create tensions with neighbors and pose a threat to the environment.
Chinese media reports describe offshore nuclear energy platforms as tiny power plants placed on ships that would act as mobile “power banks” at sea for stationary facilities and other ships, VOA reports.
However, according to the South China Morning Post, Beijing suspended the project a year ago for safety and effectiveness reasons.
But this month, the outgoing commander of the Indo-Pacific Command and the U.S. Department of State, Adm. John Aquilino, said China was continuing to build floating reactors to supply power to the disputed islands, the Washington Post reported.
Although U.S. officials said such reactors would take several years to deploy, Adm. John Aquilino said their development would threaten security and stability in the region, VOA reports.
Last week, the Philippines reiterated these concerns.
Jonathan Malaya, deputy director general of the National Security Council of the Philippines, said China would exploit its floating reactors to power military bases it has built on artificial islands, including those in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
He added that Chinese nuclear power plants would further militarize the disputed areas of the South China Sea.
“Anything that supports their military presence on these islands is technically a threat to our national security and is against our interests,” he said, adding that Australia and the United States would be among Manila’s allies conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea, as reported by VOA.
According to Beijing’s claims, it controls almost the entire South China Sea, which puts it in dispute with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Moreover, to strengthen its claims, China has already built artificial islands with airport runways.
Analysts said Beijing’s floating reactors would not only strengthen its military presence in the area but also provide it with an excuse to expand its reach through security-related activities, VOA reported.
Song Yanhui, director of the International Law Society of the Republic of China in Taiwan, said that the current military security zone of China’s artificial islands is a radius of 500 meters (1,640 feet), which means that other aircraft and ships entering this radius may be subject to legally expelled.
Song continued that if China deploys a floating nuclear power plant in the South China Sea, it could exploit the excuse of protecting the environment from radioactive pollution to expel ships from a larger area or take defensive measures.
Regarding Beijing, he said: “It kills two birds with one stone. This is a win-win strategy for both sides. “It can strengthen military presence, civilian exploit and sovereignty claims.”
But analysts say potential radiation leaks are a sedate concern, VOA reported.
Pankaj Jha, dean of research at the School of International Affairs at India’s Jindal Global University, stressed that China’s lack of experience in operating such floating reactors could spell disaster.
“This is a threat because it will pollute the water and surrounding areas,” he said. “Any radiation leak would make the island uninhabitable and could also impact fishermen in the South China Sea.”
According to VOA, in the event of a conflict with China, analysts also noted that floating reactors could also become military targets.
China has deployed radars, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles and fighter jets, among other weapons, to the disputed territories of Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross, the three largest artificial islands in the Spratly Islands.
Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Center for Assessment and Strategy, emphasized that floating nuclear power plants could one day expand China’s weapons potential.
“If protected, these nuclear plants could also potentially power future energy weapons devices,” Fisher said. “Laser weapons that can shoot down missiles and planes, or very powerful microwave weapons, can also disable missiles and planes that come within range.”
It is worth noting that China is not the first country to think about building floating nuclear reactors.
The United States took the lead in proposing the concept in 1970, but did not move quickly to develop the concept for security reasons, VOA reported.
Meanwhile, Russia is the only country to have built a floating nuclear power plant – since 2020, the Akademik Lomonosov power plant has been producing electricity and heat from the port in Pevek, a city above the Arctic Circle.
At the beginning of November last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency at a forum in Vienna expressed concern about the development of floating nuclear reactors, especially when they cross international borders or operate in international waters.
“The IAEA is working with our member states to determine what further guidance and standards may be needed to ensure the safety of floating nuclear power plants,” IAEA Deputy Director-General Lydie Evrard said in a press release.
The IAEA further noted that Canada, China, Denmark, South Korea, Russia and the United States are working on maritime “tiny modular reactor projects.”
According to analysts, the plan to build ships equipped with mobile nuclear energy sources would create tensions with neighbors and pose a threat to the environment.
Chinese media reports describe offshore nuclear energy platforms as tiny power plants placed on ships that would act as mobile “power banks” at sea for stationary facilities and other ships, VOA reports.
However, according to the South China Morning Post, Beijing suspended the project a year ago for safety and effectiveness reasons.
But this month, the outgoing commander of the Indo-Pacific Command and the U.S. Department of State, Adm. John Aquilino, said China was continuing to build floating reactors to supply power to the disputed islands, the Washington Post reported.
Although U.S. officials said such reactors would take several years to deploy, Adm. John Aquilino said their development would threaten security and stability in the region, VOA reports.
Last week, the Philippines reiterated these concerns.
Jonathan Malaya, deputy director general of the National Security Council of the Philippines, said China would exploit its floating reactors to power military bases it has built on artificial islands, including those in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
He added that Chinese nuclear power plants would further militarize the disputed areas of the South China Sea.
“Anything that supports their military presence on these islands is technically a threat to our national security and is against our interests,” he said, adding that Australia and the United States would be among Manila’s allies conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea, as reported by VOA.
According to Beijing’s claims, it controls almost the entire South China Sea, which puts it in dispute with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Moreover, to strengthen its claims, China has already built artificial islands with airport runways.
Analysts said Beijing’s floating reactors would not only strengthen its military presence in the area but also provide it with an excuse to expand its reach through security-related activities, VOA reported.
Song Yanhui, director of the International Law Society of the Republic of China in Taiwan, said that the current military security zone of China’s artificial islands is a radius of 500 meters (1,640 feet), which means that other aircraft and ships entering this radius may be subject to legally expelled.
Song continued that if China deploys a floating nuclear power plant in the South China Sea, it could exploit the excuse of protecting the environment from radioactive pollution to expel ships from a larger area or take defensive measures.
Regarding Beijing, he said: “It kills two birds with one stone. This is a win-win strategy for both sides. “It can strengthen military presence, civilian exploit and sovereignty claims.”
But analysts say potential radiation leaks are a sedate concern, VOA reported.
Pankaj Jha, dean of research at the School of International Affairs at India’s Jindal Global University, stressed that China’s lack of experience in operating such floating reactors could spell disaster.
“This is a threat because it will pollute the water and surrounding areas,” he said. “Any radiation leak would make the island uninhabitable and could also impact fishermen in the South China Sea.”
According to VOA, in the event of a conflict with China, analysts also noted that floating reactors could also become military targets.
China has deployed radars, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles and fighter jets, among other weapons, to the disputed territories of Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross, the three largest artificial islands in the Spratly Islands.
Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Center for Assessment and Strategy, emphasized that floating nuclear power plants could one day expand China’s weapons potential.
“If protected, these nuclear plants could also potentially power future energy weapons devices,” Fisher said. “Laser weapons that can shoot down missiles and planes, or very powerful microwave weapons, can also disable missiles and planes that come within range.”
It is worth noting that China is not the first country to think about building floating nuclear reactors.
The United States took the lead in proposing the concept in 1970, but did not move quickly to develop the concept for security reasons, VOA reported.
Meanwhile, Russia is the only country to have built a floating nuclear power plant – since 2020, the Akademik Lomonosov power plant has been producing electricity and heat from the port in Pevek, a city above the Arctic Circle.
At the beginning of November last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency at a forum in Vienna expressed concern about the development of floating nuclear reactors, especially when they cross international borders or operate in international waters.
“The IAEA is working with our member states to determine what further guidance and standards may be needed to ensure the safety of floating nuclear power plants,” IAEA Deputy Director-General Lydie Evrard said in a press release.
The IAEA further noted that Canada, China, Denmark, South Korea, Russia and the United States are working on maritime “tiny modular reactor projects.”
