ChatGPT said:
Yes, China did import foreign nuclear waste in limited contexts in the past, but it has not been a major importer of foreign nuclear waste for disposal, especially in recent years.
Key Points:
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Nuclear Waste vs. Recyclable Nuclear Material:
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China has accepted spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing in very limited cases, primarily for scientific or strategic purposes (like from research reactors, especially from countries that cooperated on reactor development).
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It has not been a large-scale importer of high-level radioactive waste for permanent disposal, unlike how it used to import plastic and electronic waste for recycling.
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Nuclear Waste Disposal Policy:
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China has a strict policy of managing its own domestic nuclear waste.
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Long-term storage solutions (e.g., deep geological repositories) are being developed within China for its own nuclear power program, not for foreign waste.
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Historical Importation of Other Wastes:
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China was once the world’s largest importer of general foreign waste (like plastics, electronics, and metal scraps), not nuclear waste.
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This practice was largely ended with the "National Sword" policy in 2018, which banned most imports of foreign waste.
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Rumors and Misinformation:
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There have been rumors and fears (particularly in media or activist circles) about nuclear waste being imported, especially after deals like the China–France nuclear cooperation agreements.
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However, official agreements have focused on technology transfer, reactor construction, and domestic fuel cycle development — not foreign waste disposal.
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In Summary:
China has not been a significant importer of foreign nuclear waste for disposal, and its nuclear waste policy is largely domestically focused. It has concentrated on managing its own waste from its rapidly growing nuclear energy sector.
