Foreign and Military Affairs

China's military nuclear facilities safe: official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-31 12:28

BEIJING -- China's military nuclear facilities are safe, said a senior military officer here Thursday in response to security concerns triggered by Japanese nuclear leak crisis.

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"We have thoroughly examined the military nuclear facilities shortly after the nuclear plant accident in Japan," said Cai Hualie, senior officer with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff Headquarters, at a press conference.

"Chinese armed forces have always placed great importance to the safety of military nuclear facilities," Cai said. "We have established strict safety protocols and management as well as a professional team of nuclear technicians."

The armed forces also worked to improve the training of contingency response and rescue as well as capacity building to cope with nuclear accidents, he said.

According to a white paper on China's national defense issued Thursday, the Chinese army has worked to strengthen its safety systems, strictly implement safety regulations, and ensure the safety of missile weaponry and equipment, operational positions and other key elements.

The country has continued to "maintain good safety records in nuclear weapon management," the white paper says.