WASHINGTON DC: China is developing floating nuclear reactors in the South China Sea to guard its claim over the disputed maritime territory, which would be environmentally risky according to analysts voiced by Voice of America (VOA).
The construction of ships with portable atomic energy sources will increase tensions with neighbours and put the environment at risk, analysts said.
Marine nuclear power platforms are described as small plants inside ships that could serve as mobile “power banks” out at sea for stationary facilities and other ships, reported VOA.
The project had been called off by Beijing a year ago over safety and effectiveness concerns, according to The South China Morning post.
But this month the Washington Post recorded US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino saying that China was still building such floating reactors as power supply units to disputed Islands.
US officials noted that while deploying such reactors would take several years, their development alone would undermine regional security and stability; Admiral John Aquilino said according to VOA.
Thereafter, last week ,the Philippines commended those views.
China’s floating reactors could be used by them to fuel military bases constructed on artificial islands including those within exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,” Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya from Philippines National Security Council stated.
China’s Nuclear Plants in Disputed Area Will Further Militarize it: “Anything that supports their military presence in those islands is technically a threat to our national security and against our interests. ” “Australia and the US will be among Manila’s allies conducting joint patrols in South China Sea,” he said.
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines Vietnam Taiwan lay claim to almost all the South China Sea according to Beijing.
Additionally, it has built artificial islands with airport runways there for bolstering its claims.
Therefore such floating reactors would not only strengthen Chinese military presence over there but also provide justification for extending its reach through security actions (VOA).
Song Yanhui, director of International Law Society of Republic of China, Taiwan, said that “the current military security zone for China’s artificial islands is a radius of 500 meters (1,640 feet), which means that other aircraft and ships can be legitimately expelled from it.”
If South Sea is prowled with a floating nuclear power plant by China, larger area may be potentially cleared of shipping and vessels on the pretext of environmental pollution from radioactivity or self-defence moves.
“It kills two birds with one stone. It is a win-win strategy. It can strengthen its military presence, civilian use and claim to sovereignty,” he said on behalf of Beijing.
It was reported by VOA further explained that however; this risked potential radiation leaks because according to analysts.
According to Pankaj Jha who is Dean of Research at the School of International Affairs in India’sJindal Global University, China’s lack of experience in operating such floating reactors could spell disaster.
“It endangers the source of water, besides other adjacent areas”, he stated. “Any radiation leak would render that island uninhabitable and could also affect fishermen from the South China Sea.”
In addition, analysts emphasized that in case of war with China, these reactors are liable to be destroyed as military targets, according to VOA.
China has however earlier on stationed radars, missiles for both ships and aircrafts and fighters among other weapons within Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross – the three largest Spratly Islands’ artificial islands claimed by Vietnam.
Additionally, Richard Fisher said that China’s floating nuclear power plants can one day augment its military capabilities.
“If they were defended these nuclear power plants might still possibly empower future energy weapon devices,” added Fisher. “There could also be laser weapons like ones that could bring down a missile or an airplane or very powerful microwave weapons that can disable any missile or airplane once they are in range.”
However, China is not the first country with such an idea regarding floating nuclear reactors.
It was first proposed by the US in 1970 but due to safety problems they did not proceed immediately reported VOA.
Meanwhile only Russia has managed to create a floating nuclear plant (Akademik Lomonosov) from which electricity and heating have been produced since 2020 at a harbor located in Pevek town within Arctic Circle.
As recent as November last year‟s Vienna forum organised by International Atomic Agency expressed concerns over development of floating nuclear reactors especially when crossing international borders or operating within international waters.
“The IAEA is collaborating with our member states to determine what further guidance and standards may be required to ensure the safety of floating nuclear power plants” noted IAEA Deputy Director General Lydie Evrard through press release
Finally, the IAEA revealed that Canada, China, Denmark, South Korea Russia and USA are all working on marine-centered small modular reactor designs.
