DOE Announces Measures to Prevent China’s Illegal Diversion of U.S. Civil Nuclear Technology for Military or Other Unauthorized Purposes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced measures to prevent China’s illegal diversion of U.S. civil nuclear technology for military or other unauthorized purposes.

These national security measures are the result of a U.S. government policy review prompted by concerns about China’s efforts to obtain nuclear material, equipment, and advanced technology from U.S. companies.

“The United States cannot ignore the national security implications of China’s efforts to obtain nuclear technology outside of established processes of U.S.-China civil nuclear cooperation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

The policy guidance establishes a clear framework for the disposition of DOE’s 10 CFR Part 810 authorization requests for transfers to China that are currently on hold because of military diversion and proliferation concerns.

Notably, there will be a presumption of denial for new license applications or extensions to existing authorizations related to the China General Nuclear Power Group, which is currently under indictment for conspiring to steal U.S. nuclear technology.

The Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration, FBI, Intelligence Community, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of State all participated in the U.S. policy review, which was led by the National Security Council.

These efforts are necessary to strike an appropriate balance between the long-term risk to U.S. national security and economic interests, as well as the immediate impact to the U.S. nuclear industrial base.