The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council both attach great importance to the country's nuclear emergency response program and have always regarded it as a strategic issue that matters to national economic and social development. The program primarily consists of the following five principles.

1. Establishing and improving laws, rules and regulations concerning national nuclear emergency response. Upholding the law on the administrative level a basic requirement in the country's nuclear emergency response program. Laws regarding the nation's nuclear emergency response are as follows:

The Emergency Response Law, which was passed in August of 2007 by the 29th Plenary of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), divides emergencies in the country into four categories, namely natural disasters, accidents, public health incidents and public security incidents. Any emergency response following a nuclear accident is categorized under "accidents." The law also standardizes the institutional principles in "accident" emergencies.

The Law on Radioactive Pollution Prevention, passed in June of 2003 by the Third Plenary of the 10th NPC's Standing Committee, and the Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Management Regulations as promulgated in August of 1993 by the State Council, both clearly define the basic principles in the emergency response following a nuclear accident.

2. Establishing basic principles and working guidelines for China's nuclear emergency response. Management in emergency response following a nuclear accident must adhere to the working guidelines of "Always being alert, being compatible, following unified command, being cooperative, protecting the public and protecting the environment," as well as the working principles of "Following the unified command, hierarchical responsibility, balancing attention between peace- and wartime, coordinating the military and the government, a swift response and a scientific approach."

3. Fundamental tasks in China's nuclear emergency response. Effective response measures following a nuclear accident, even just with the possible risk of having one, should be in place. These measures should maximize efforts in damage control and disaster relief, reduce or eliminate casualties and losses, as well as preserve public safety, environmental safety and social stability.

4. Management mechanism for China's nuclear emergency response. In line with the basic principle of "following the central authorities' unified command, working in comprehensive coordination, hierarchical management, hierarchical responsibility and complying with local authorities' management," as stipulated in the Emergency Response Law, the country has clearly stipulated in the form of administrative regulations and resolutions that China's nuclear emergency response is administered at three levels.

Following the country's administrative regulations and the State Council's resolutions, the National Nuclear Emergency Coordination Committee (CNNECC) was established, initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State Administration of Science and Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND). The Committee consists of members from 24 departments affiliated with the State Council and the military.

The Office of the National Nuclear Emergency administers China's national nuclear emergency response and forms the standing administrative body of CNNECC. It is set up under the SASTIND. Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Miao Wei, is the chairman of CNNECC. SASTIND, the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Combat Department of the General Staff Department of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Sixteen provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) have established provincial committees and offices to handle the nuclear emergency response. All operational nuclear facilities have set up emergency response teams and should the need arise, a national nuclear emergency response headquarters will be established following unified command and organization to coordinate the nuclear emergency response across the country.

CNNECC hosts a specialist committee that consists of experts hailing from such fields as nuclear engineering, nuclear technology, nuclear safety, radiation monitoring, radiation protection, environmental protection, medicine, meteorology, oceanography, crisis management and publicity management. The committee is to provide consultations and advice to CNNECC in its major decision making, critical planning and nuclear emergency response.

CNNECC also hosts a panel of liaisons, composed of chiefs and directors from member organizations, including those from operational nuclear facilities responsible for the tasks assigned by CNNECC.

5. Establishing and improving the nuclear emergency response contingency plan. The nuclear emergency contingency plan is a normative document to guide the country's acts in organizing and implementing any nuclear emergency response. It stipulates the nuclear emergency management mechanism, different grades for nuclear emergency responses, the nuclear emergency response command mechanism, and the preparation and implementation guidelines for any nuclear emergency response.

The State Council is responsible for issuing the "National Nuclear Emergency Response Contingency Plan," whereas any related central agencies, provincial (autonomous regional and municipal) and operational nuclear facilities all must formulate their own contingency plans, which are put together to form the country's contingency plans in the event of a nuclear emergency.

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