China's Building A Larger Nuclear Arsenal

It's not what the article says, but what it means:

BEIJING - Chinese scientists are planning super-efficient nuclear reactors that can maximize uranium "burn" and minimize waste in the generation of electricity. If the first experimental reactor, set to be in operation by 2010, is successful, the technology could help relieve China's uranium supply problems as the country accelerates nuclear power plant construction.

China Academy of Atomic Science President Zhao Zhixiang said a team of scientists has already mapped a detailed plan to speed up research and utilization of the so-called next-generation fast reactors. The new reactors are expected to "burn" 60-70% of their uranium fuel - a conventional reactor consumes only 0.7% of the uranium it is fed.

Not all fast reactors are by definition "breeder" (weapon-making) reactors, but fast reactors are uniquely suited to this purpose. "Fast" refers in this case to the higher speed and volume of neutrons in the reactor, which are generally put to one of two uses: making more fissile material such as plutonium (a breeder reactor, which makes more fuel than it consumes) or breaking down existing nuclear waste (yup, you can do this.*) Fast reactors also require highly-enriched plutonium or uranium as a fuel, unlike other designs. So one way or another, China is going to have more highly-enriched fissile material in the hands of the government if this plan goes through.

Before anyone starts screaming about China not meeting it's obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, however, we should point out two salient facts: One, China is recognized in the treaty as having weapons, and is allowed to. So there. Two, even if this wasn't the case, this reactor technology is probably legal (though I'm not sure) under the treaty. As I've said before, the problem with the NPT is not how often it's disobeyed, but how much you can get away with without violating anything - see Japan.

*You can't actually break down nuclear waste in the sense that it becomes non-radioactive, but you can shorten the span of time that it will be toxic - at the cost of making it much more toxic for that shorter period.