The United States plans to reduce the transfer of civilian nuclear technology to China "to avoid its illegal diversion" to "military or unauthorized purposes.""These national security measures are the result of a review of the government policy launched after concerns over China's efforts to acquire nuclear material and advanced equipment and technology from US companies," the US Department of Energy said in a statement.
"The United States can no longer ignore the consequences of China's actions on national security," the statement quoted US Energy Secretary Rick Perry as saying.
The measures are the latest step in the broader US effort to pressure China.
Officials said the United States would still allow civilian nuclear exports to China, but these exports would face increased scrutiny.
The new rules will be applied "immediately" but only to future licenses or cases that are still under consideration by the authorities.
The measures include China's state-owned General Nuclear Power Group and "currently accused of conspiring to steal US nuclear technology," the ministry said.
The administration is aware of the importance of the Chinese market for US exports of nuclear goods and services, a US government official was quoted as saying.
"The US industry may suffer from this decision in the short term, but China's coordinated efforts to copy and steal US nuclear products will in the long term lead to a permanent loss of global markets and jobs in the United States," he said.
