By helping China develop its civilian nuclear power program, the United States will be in a better position to work with China to stop nuclear weapons proliferation, according to the CSIS U.S.-China Commercial Nuclear Commerce Task Force. Since 1990, China has improved its nonproliferation record. Limitations on U.S. participation in China's nuclear power program have been ineffective, only serving to cut the United States out of an important element of China's vast energy market and limiting our influence on the U.S. non-proliferation program. U.S. participation in China's civilian nuclear program would increase its safety, reliability, and environmental friendliness. A U.S. foothold in China's nuclear energy program would secure its position before China selects families of standard reactor designs.
China represents the single largest energy market for power generation equipment in the world.
The dynamic growth of China's economy has produced substantial demand for electricity. China plans around 500,000 megawatts of electrical generating capacity to be on-line by the year 2010. Four percent of that total, or 20,000 megawatts, is projected to be supplied by nuclear power. Thus, nuclear energy can play an important role in meeting China's energy needs. And China is committed to an active nuclear program.