China has significantly expanded its nuclear power capacity and electricity output since 2012, while maintaining strong safety standards, according to officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Speaking at a nuclear safety event in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Vice-Minister Dong Baotong highlighted that the number of operational nuclear power units in the country has quadrupled during this period. As a result, China’s nuclear power capacity and corresponding electricity generation in 2025 reached roughly five times the levels recorded in 2012.

The event, held on April 11 to coincide closely with China’s National Security Education Day on April 15, aimed to raise public awareness about nuclear safety and broader national security concerns. Dong, who also heads the National Nuclear Safety Administration, emphasized the crucial role nuclear technology now plays beyond power generation, including in fields such as industry, healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection, and national security.

In 2025, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Regulatory Review Service team conducted a comprehensive 12-day inspection of China’s nuclear facilities, activities, and radiation exposure controls. Dong noted that the team recognized several Chinese practices as exemplary and confirmed the country’s adherence to international nuclear safety conventions. He stated that China’s operational nuclear power units consistently maintain safety performances that rank among the world’s highest.

China currently has the largest number of nuclear power units under construction globally, placing the sector at a critical stage of rapid expansion. Dong underscored that nuclear safety remains the industry's “lifeline” and a matter of utmost importance given its implications for public health, environmental protection, national security, and the sustainable growth of the nuclear sector. He pledged the ministry’s commitment to enforcing strict safety responsibility frameworks and leveraging technological advancements to proactively identify and mitigate risks.

Adding perspective on the future, Li Xiaomeng, deputy director of the China Nuclear Power Development Center, outlined the substantial potential for nuclear power development under the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). With energy and electricity consumption projected to continue rising steadily, Li said nuclear energy’s strategic value in the country’s transition to a new energy and power system will become increasingly prominent. Li stressed that China will adhere to policies of active, safe, and orderly nuclear development, aiming to balance growth with rigorous safety measures as the industry enters a period of sustained expansion.