Sri Lanka, May 6 -- The US regards China's plans to deploy floating nuclear reactors that could power military facilities as a threat to regional security, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

After more than a decade of research and development, China is said to be inching closer to the construction of its first floating nuclear power plant. Beijing has stated that the facility could provide electricity and heat to remote areas, islands, and offshore oil and gas platforms.

US officials claim that Beijing will use floating reactors to power military bases on artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, arguing that the move would "destabilize" the entire Asia-Pacific.

"China's intended use of floating nuclear power plan...