NSC weighs in on China floating nuclear reactors

It will be a threat to Philippine national security if China pushes through with its reported plan to use floating nuclear power plants in the South China Sea, a national security official said yesterday.

- JANVIC MATEO

National Security Council assistant director general Jonathan Malaya, in an interview with “Storycon” on One News, said the nuclear power plants – if installed – would be used to power military bases located on artificial islands that China built, including those within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The reported plan is something the Philippines dreads as it would further militarize the artificial islands, he added.

"These militarized features in the West Philippine Sea are actually artificial islands and some of them are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines... It is not in our interest that they are doing this. They are, in effect, further militarizing the islands," Malaya said.