Comment by alephnerd

Officials at the NEA technically removed the moratorium in 2014 [0] but it de facto still exists [1] given that they haven't been given priority in 5 Year Plans, massive inland projects like Toahuajiang have been mothballed, and the R&D has moved towards floating nuclear power plants instead.

It makes sense because the Chinese public is like any other public and very NIMBY and scared of meltdowns. The CCP is authoritarian, but they do take public sentiment into account.

Misinformation (some of which is government supported) like the Fukushima Water Discharge and the constant reporting about anti-Nuclear protests in Japan (in an attempt to bloody Japan's nose) also hurt the support of nuclear power in China [2]

[0] - https://fjb.nea.gov.cn/dtyw/jgdt/202311/t20231110_200899.htm...

[1] - https://power.m.ofweek.com/2021-04/ART-35007-8420-30494525.h...

[2] - https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/anti-japanese-feeling-rises-i...