NUCLEAR PHILOSOPHY

By+Yu+Lintao

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently spoke on the use of nuclear energy by raising the vivid analogy of Prometheus， the Greek god who brought fire to humanity. While nuclear technology has the power to generate a bright future for mankind， Xi warned that without effective safeguards for nuclear safety and an adequate response to potential security risks， that same power could be overshadowed by the darkness of disaster.

The Chinese leaders remarks were made on March 24 at the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague， during which he also elaborated comprehensively on Chinas approach to nuclear security.

Observers said it is the first time China has proposed a systematic solution to world nuclear security， which will be of great constructive significance for strengthening nuclear security for a safe world. In the meantime， it embodies Chinas willingness to undertake its role as a responsible power.

A systematic approach

In his statement， President Xi suggested that to enhance nuclear security， the world should place equal emphasis on development and security， rights and obligations， independent and collaborative efforts， as well as on treating symptoms and addressing causes.

As for the four-point proposal， observers said it has included all the key elements that are needed to bring nuclear security onto a healthy track for sustainable development， such as how to understand the situation， find a solution and cooperate with each other.

Chen Kai， Secretary General of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association， said the first two points of the proposal reflect the Chinese philosophy of balance in its nuclear security approach. “The balance of capacity and responsibility as well as of rights and obligations is practical as it is based on the uneven development of global nuclear capacity，” he said.

“The levels of nuclear energy development are different in different countries， and their capacities， interests and responsibilities should therefore vary，” said Chen. “But all in all， the development of nuclear energy should be founded on the premise of security.”

Liu Chong， a researcher with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations， said Xis proposal at the summit is strategic and instructive as it stresses both treating symptoms and addressing causes.

While offering suggestions to prevent nuclear security risks， Xi stressed the importance of tackling the root causes of nuclear security. He said the international community needs to foster a peaceful and stable international environment， encourage harmonious and friendly relations between countries， and conduct exchanges among different civilizations in an amicable and open-minded manner. This is the only way to address the root causes of nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation， and to achieve the lasting security and development of nuclear power.endprint

Chen said this idea is based on Chinas profound understanding of the underlying causes of global nuclear security threats.

“The efforts the international community has made on nuclear security including building security protection capacity， making and implementing international norms as well as carrying out international cooperation mainly focus on how to respond to nuclear security challenges. But what China is more concerned with is a solution to its fundamental causes，” said Chen.

“What China advocates is to eliminate the scourge of terrorism—the source of nuclear security threats. It calls on all the countries to foster a peaceful regional and international environment， eliminate poverty and enhance dialogue among different civilizations for mutual understanding，” Chen added. “The Chinese approach to nuclear security proposed by President Xi shows Chinas role as a responsible power in the world arena.”

A good record

In his statement during the summit， Xi not only proposed to address international nuclear security challenges but also committed to firmly strengthening Chinas own nuclear security capability.

Chen said that in the last several decades， China has intensified its efforts to enhance the governments regulatory capacity. The country has also increased inputs in relevant device and technological development as well as human resources cultivation to enhance the security of its nuclear materials and facilities.

Since the 1950s， China has issued a series of regulations on nuclear security management and kept a sound record on nuclear security. To meet the new challenges as well as upgrade its technological capacity， China established the National Nuclear Security Technology Center under the China Atomic Energy Authority （CAEA） in 2011 to provide technological support for the countrys nuclear security， nuclear material control and nuclear export-import management as well as intergovernmental exchanges and cooperation.

The past years have seen a rapid improvement of Chinas comprehensive capability in ensuring nuclear security within its borders， said Sun Qin， Chairman of the China National Nuclear Corp. （CNNC）， the countrys leading nuclear plant operator， to Xinhua News Agency.

According to Sun， the CNNC has over the years stepped up efforts in nuclear material accounting in line with international standards， and continued to strengthen the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities. In addition to applying new physical protection standards to new nuclear power projects， the company has continued to conduct overhauls of the physical protection level at its old facilities. Beyond investing a lot in infrastructure and hardware， it also has focused more on nuclear security mechanism and system building in a comprehensive manner that combines the serious implementation of protection arrangements， the advances of nuclear technological research， and the collection of feedbacks from industries.endprint

Moreover， Sun added that the CNNC has been active in international research cooperation on the “down-blending” of highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium in civilian nuclear uses， an effort that has been promoted by the Nuclear Security Summit to minimize the use of dangerous materials for preventing nuclear terrorism.

“As nuclear security is a real global matter， China has actively participated in all kinds of international cooperation on the issue，” Liu told Beijing Review.

China has been represented by its head of state at all three nuclear security summits， the first of which was held in 2010. Since 2006，China and the United States have cooperated with each other to conduct nuclear material protection drills.

The China-U.S. Center of Excellence in Nuclear Security， which is being built in the suburbs of Beijing with the joint efforts of the CAEA and its U.S. counterpart， is another good example in terms of international cooperation in nuclear security. Following its expected inauguration in 2015， the center will be the largest nuclear security international exchange， training and demonstration center in the Asia-Pacific region.

After its completion， the center will be able to carry out tasks such as nuclear material analysis and identification， training of nuclear security personnel and accounting of nuclear materials. It is estimated that it can provide 2，000 personnel with professional nuclear security training.

Wang Yiren， Deputy Director of the CAEA， said the center will not only help China to learn more advanced technology and attain management experience in nuclear security protection， but also promote technological development and exchanges worldwide.

Moreover， China has launched a number of cooperative projects with Russia and Kazakhstan to combat the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials and has been helping Ghana to convert a highly enriched uranium-fueled research reactor to using low enriched uranium within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency （IAEA）. China has also made contributions to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund， and helped enhance the nuclear security capability of other Asia-Pacific countries through hosting training sessions and a variety of other ways.

Chinas work on nuclear protection has gained international recognition. A recent report titled Securing Chinas Nuclear Future jointly released by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and China shows that since the September 11， 2001 terrorist attacks， China has greatly strengthened the security of its nuclear facilities. Zhang Hui， a senior researcher with Harvard University and an author of the report， said China possesses the smallest quantity of nuclear materials among the five nuclear powers， in keeping with its defensive nuclear policy under which the country minimizes its nuclear stock. Thus， it is much easier for China to maintain the security of its nuclear materials.endprint

In an interview with China Central Television， David Santoro， a senior researcher with the Pacific Forum under the Washington， D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies， said over the past 10 years and even further back， China has done a lot to improve its nuclear security credentials. This is evidenced by the many efforts it has made internally and in cooperation with others at both the regional level and the global level.

International progress

In the final communique of The Hague Nuclear Security Summit， leaders and representatives from 53 countries and international organizations reaffirmed the fundamental responsibility of countries “to maintain at all times effective security” of all nuclear and other radioactive materials. Observers claimed that the summit represented a major step forward and a fitting follow-up to the agreements made at earlier summits in Washington， D.C. and Seoul.

“The summit has become an important platform for international nuclear security cooperation with remarkable achievements having been made，” Liu said. “Since the 2010 summit， the international community has deepened their understanding on nuclear security and expanded their consensus on the issue.”

According to Liu， since the 2012 summit， 16 countries have ratified the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and its 2005 amendment； nine countries have approved the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism； 22 countries have enhanced measures on border control and combating nuclear material smuggling； 32 countries have improved nuclear security supervision and legislation； and seven countries have eliminated their highly enriched uranium.

Wang of the CAEA said the latest communique will promote the establishment of a global nuclear security system.

“The most important points of the communique include underlining the central position of the IAEA in the international nuclear security framework and supporting the UNs role in nuclear security and in promoting the ratification and implementation of international conventions on combating nuclear terrorism，” Wang said.

Previous Summits

The Nuclear Security Summit is a world forum aimed at advocating nuclear security and preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe.

Against the background of the existence of insecure elements and the risk of nuclear materials and technology being abused， U.S. President Barack Obama hosted the first summit in 2010 in Washington， D.C. after revealing in Prague his ambitious goal of a world without nuclear weapons in April 2009.

The Washington summit， with the participation of leaders and representatives from 47 countries， adopted a broad communique iterating the participating countries commitment to the goal of securing nuclear materials in four years.

A more detailed work plan outlined specific steps， including how the broad goals and commitments of the communique will be implemented.

The second summit， held in the South Korean capital of Seoul in March 2012， saw the participation of leaders and representatives from 53 countries and international organizations such as the UN， the European Union， the IAEA and the International Criminal Police Organization.

The Seoul summit concluded with the release of a 13-point communique reiterating joint efforts toward nuclear security while backing the IAEAs essential role in international cooperation.

（Source： Xinhua News Agency）endprint