The Determinants of Chinese Civilian Nuclear Cooperation: A Comparative Analysis of China's Nuclear Export Strategy in Eastern Africa

Abstract

The global nuclear governance system is designed to prevent accidents and malicious actions involving nuclear materials, and to disallow the spread of nuclear weapons. In recent years, China has invested heavily in its nuclear industry and is set to overtake the United States as global nuclear leader, providing it substantial influence in nuclear governance and responses. This will have consequences for international security as it is unknown if China will prioritize security concerns over economic and political consideration, which could reduce the effectiveness of the nuclear governance system. A significant share of China's exports is targeted for countries in Africa and Asia, many located in volatile regions and without stable government structures. It is necessary for the West to respond to this challenge through cooperative measures and effective policies, but in order to do so it is imperative to first understand the drivers behind China's nuclear export strategy. This paper made the first in-depth examination of China's civilian nuclear cooperation and examined a series of defined hypotheses to understand its behaviour. It looked at Chinese nuclear exports to state in Eastern Africa and used comparative analyses to identify differences between those who receive nuclear aid and those who do...