The Ministry of Health has issued an edict for local governments to step up preparations in case of nuclear emergencies, because of the rising number of nuclear facilities in neighbouring countries and threats of global attacks.
A notice on the Ministry of Health's website yesterday called the task 'vital' and 'urgent' due to the widening use of nuclear technology.
It said the construction of many nuclear power plants on the mainland had just taken off; nuclear fuel production, once under strict military control, had been partially commercialised; and a large number of factories had equipped themselves with radioactive devices to improve the quality of their products.
The edict did not directly say these facilities would become targets of terrorist attacks, but it said one of the reasons for better preparation for nuclear emergencies was that 'the threat of global terrorism is a reality'.
'Some countries have also intensified the use and development of nuclear power at the Chinese border. If a nuclear or radioactive incident breaks out, Chinese citizens' health and lives will be at stake, and economic development and social stability in China will be compromised,' it said.
Every city and county with nuclear facilities will be required to set up an emergency response team and assign senior health officials to take charge of them.
