US-China Nuclear-related Scientific Cooperation

US-China Nuclear-related Scientific Cooperation

Currently, the United States and China cooperate in a variety of nuclear-related fields, including:

Technical Information Exchange and Cooperation Arrangements (through the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission), which includes the timely exchange of significant nuclear safety information and the establishment of official communication channels on safety issues
Informal cooperation in the field of international safeguards (since 1988). This cooperation has taken the form of visits with Chinese safeguards organizations and selected training of Chinese safeguards personnel at Department of Energy laboratories
Cooperation in the Fields of Nuclear Physics and Magnetic Fusion Research between China's State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC) and the US Department of Energy (since 1983). On 11 May 1983, the two countries signed the agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Nuclear Physics and Magnetic Fusion Research between China's State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC) and the US Department of Energy; the agreement was signed pursuant to the US-China 31 January 1979 Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology. [James F. Keeley with Nancy J. Pearson-Mackie and Sheila K. Singh, A List of Bilateral Civilian Nuclear Co-Operation Agreements, Strategic Studies Program, University of Calgary, 1992, p. 64.]

US-China Agreement of Intent

On 29 October 1997, during the US-China summit, the two sides signed the "Agreement of Intent on Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology Between the Department of Energy of the United States of America and the State Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China." The Agreement of Intent is intended to strengthen US-China cooperation related to nuclear technology and nuclear nonproliferation. Potential cooperation includes the exchange of technical information, personnel, samples, materials, instruments and equipment; training; use of the other country's facilities; and participation in seminars, studies, and research and development projects. The Agreement of Intent is to be followed by US-China negotiation of a broad "umbrella" agreement to govern future cooperative activities on nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation.

Nuclear technologies: Potential US-China cooperation includes: current and advanced light-water reactor technologies and reactor and power plant safety; in-service inspection, fuel treatment and storage, decontamination and decommissioning, irradiation technology, and production of isotopes for medical, industrial, and agricultural purposes
Nonproliferation technologies: Potential US-China cooperation includes: development and implementation of systems for export control of nuclear materials, equipment and technologies; nuclear materials control and accounting; physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities; and technology development for enhancement of international nuclear safeguards

[US Department of Energy, "Fact Sheet: US-China Agreement of Intent on Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology," October 1997.]

Protocol on Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters

On 17 October 1981, the two countries signed the Protocol on Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters between China's State Science and Technology Commission (SSTC) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The protocol entered into force 17 October 1981; was amended 26 September 1986; entered into force 26 September 1986; effective 17 October 1986. The protocol was terminated on 16 October 1991. [James F. Keeley with Nancy J. Pearson-Mackie and Sheila K. Singh, A List of Bilateral Civilian Nuclear Co-Operation Agreements, Strategic Studies Program, University of Calgary, 1992, p. 63.]

Under the protocol, the NRC transfered to China a basic set of NRC safety criteria, including regulatory rules, safety guides, technical reports, and safety assessment computer codes. This protocol led to Beijing's establishment of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), under the State Council. [Qingshan Tan, "US-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: China's Nonproliferation Policy," Asian Survey, September 1989, p. 881.]

Prohibition of US-China nuclear weapons-related cooperative activity

P.L. 104-201, the Defense Authorization Act for FY 1997, prohibits the use of Department of Energy funding for any cooperative activity with China relating to nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons-related technology, including stockpile stewardship, safety, and use control. [Shirley A. Kan, "Chinese Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Current Policy Issues," CRS Issue Brief, Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress, 17 October 1996, p. 8.]

[US-CHINA NATIONAL LABORATORY INTERACTIONS]

[CHINA AND THE US REDUCED ENRICHMENT FOR RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS (RERTR) PROGRAM]

[JOINT DEFENSE CONVERSION COMMISSION (JDCC)]

Last Updated June 1998

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.