In a troubling sign of China’s growing military ambitions, the country has developed a land-based prototype nuclear reactor designed to power large surface warships. This development is the clearest signal yet that Beijing is aggressively advancing toward fielding its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a move that could challenge the current balance of naval power. Nuclear-powered carriers are a defining feature of first-class naval forces, a status currently reserved for only two countries—the United States and France—who have wielded such power with a degree of responsibility and restraint.

The Longwei Project: A Strategic Threat to Maritime Stability

This project, known as the Longwei Project, or “Dragon Might,” is housed at a site in Leshan controlled by the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Documents reveal that the new reactor is on the verge of becoming operational at Base 909, where China has already established six additional reactors in various states of operation or construction. The Chinese regime’s rapid advancement in this area, often cloaked in secrecy, raises questions about its intentions and the potential threats posed by such power on the open seas.

Nuclear-Powered Carriers: Escalating China’s Offensive Capabilities

Unlike conventional carriers, nuclear-powered carriers are built to project power far from home, staying at sea indefinitely without refueling. This not only enables China to push its naval boundaries but also allows its carriers to carry more fuel and weapons, drastically increasing their capacity to deploy force abroad. Furthermore, nuclear propulsion provides the necessary power to operate advanced systems, making these carriers a potential platform for high-tech weapons and surveillance equipment—tools that could be used to dominate or intimidate smaller nations in contested waters like the South China Sea.

China’s Expanding Military Agenda

China’s rapid push toward nuclear-powered carriers is a clear sign of its broader ambitions to challenge the established order at sea. While the United States and France have used their nuclear carriers to support stability and humanitarian missions, China’s history of aggressive territorial claims and disregard for international norms raises concerns that these carriers could be used for coercive purposes. The Longwei Project thus represents a growing threat to regional and global security, with China positioning itself to enforce its will over neighboring nations.