On June 10, 2026, Chinese media Guancha.cn reported that, against the backdrop of a surge in AI demand, China is rapidly expanding its nuclear power generation and is expected to surpass the United States within 5 years to become the world's largest nuclear energy producer.

The article cited a report by economic research firm Gabkal Technologies, stating that while the United States still maintains the world's largest scale in operational reactors, China accounts for nearly half of the reactors currently under construction worldwide and is expected to rival the U.S. in installed capacity within 5 years.

Furthermore, the article introduced that the company's analysts stated in the report that there is no doubt China will possess the largest nuclear energy industry by 2035.

The article mentioned that the surge in electricity demand from the AI industry and geopolitical risks such as the Strait of Hormuz blockade are re-emphasizing energy security issues, leading to nuclear energy being recognized as a reliable solution that emits no carbon dioxide.

It further introduced that China is promoting nuclear power development with strong government support, with 60 reactors currently in commercial operation, 36 under construction, and 16 approved for construction. The total installed capacity of all these combined is 125 million kilowatts, making it the world's largest. According to Yang Changli, Chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Association, it is expected to reach 200 million kilowatts by 2040.

On the other hand, it pointed out that the U.S. nuclear industry has been stagnant for a long time, and while President Trump has a desire for its revival, high costs and regulations pose obstacles, making the prospects for expansion unclear. It also mentioned Gabkal's report that it takes China an average of 6 years to build new reactors, whereas it takes the United States more than 10 years.

In addition, the article highlighted, as a symbol of China's technological innovation, a prototype of a 10-megawatt truck-mounted reactor developed by a team led by Wu Yican, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chief scientific advisor at the Institute of Nuclear Safety Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science. Since it can power a medium-sized data center for decades without refueling, it was introduced as having the potential to break the traditional centralized power transmission model of large nuclear power plants. (Edited and translated by Kawajiri)