“Marine nuclear power platform construction will be used to support China's effective control in the South China Sea,” the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said on a social media account, the state-run Global Times reported.
The report said the platforms, which will be constructed on the islands and reefs of the South China Sea’s Nansha chain, are meant “to ensure freshwater.” The Nansha chain is called Spratly Islands by Beijing’s rivals.
“In the past, the freshwater provision to troops stationed in the South China Sea could not be guaranteed, and could only be provided by boats delivering barrels of water,” the Global Times cited the report as saying.
The CNNC further emphasized Beijing’s resolve to step up the development of the South China, which has long been the subject of a territorial row between China and a number of its neighbors.
“In the future, as the South China Sea electricity and power system is strengthened,” the report added.
On Friday, Chinese website The Paper quoted China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) engineer Zhu Hanchao as saying that 20 marine nuclear platforms were under construction.
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