The Fuqing nuclear power plant is under construction.? [Photo/China Daily]

China has set major targets to improve its nuclear energy security and capacity to control radiation sources in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). It is the first time this has been included in the national development roadmap, as the nation becomes a leading global nuclear player.

The country has 30 nuclear reactors in operation and another 26 under construction.

"The total number of reactors has exceeded that in Japan, which has 54," said Tang Bo, head of the nuclear energy security supervision under the Ministry of Environmental Protection, on Thursday.

He added if the new projects start construction as scheduled, China could have more nuclear reactors than France, meaning that it would have second place behind the United States.

In 2015, six nuclear reactors went online and the authorities have given permits for the construction of eight more reactors and approved the locations of another two, the ministry said.

In line with the rapid growth of nuclear energy, more industries have utilized radiation sources in their production in recent years, involving 60,000 companies with 120,000 radiation sources in operation nationwide, said the ministry.

These radiation sources have been mainly used for medical diagnosis and treatment, and industrial production.

To guarantee the security of major radiation sources and rapidly growing nuclear reactors, China has strengthened its management of nuclear power security.

The targets set out in the plan require the authorities to maintain effective control of nuclear security, and lower the risks involved, to ensure that the security of nuclear facilities reaches the advanced international level.