International Aspects of China's Nuclear Energy Development Strategy

The article presents an analysis of China's international strategy in the field of nuclear energy, focusing on key areas of cooperation with foreign partners. In the context of global concentration of reactor technology supply — where just six countries (Russia, the United States, France, China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan) hold dominant positions—China is consistently building a network of external partnerships aimed at strengthening its role in the global nuclear industry. The methodological basis of the study is a qualitative content analysis of the annual Blue Books on Nuclear Energy for the years 2018–2024, conducted using MAXQDA software. Over 850 text segments were coded in the process, enabling the identification of five core components of China's strategy: implementation of nuclear projects, cooperation in uranium and nuclear fuel supply, development of technologies and innovations, operational and maintenance services, and issues of nuclear safety and geopolitics. The analysis reveals stable partnership ties between China and several countries: Pakistan (as a key platform for demonstrating Chinese reactor technology), Russia (in the field of advanced nuclear technologies), France (within scientific and technical cooperation), as well as Kazakhstan and Namibia (in uranium supply chains). Additionally, the study examines cases of suspended or reconsidered projects, notably in the United Kingdom and Argentina. The findings suggest that China is pursuing a multilayered strategy that combines technological advancement, project expansion, and flexible foreign-policy tactics — allowing it to steadily consolidate its position as one of the world's leading players in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.

China, nuclear energy, international cooperation, nuclear projects, uranium, nuclear fuel, technological innovation, geopolitical challenges