The 320-person China Nuclear Emergency Rescue Team was officially founded on May 24, 2016. The team will be in charge of nuclear radiation protection and medical rescue, according to CCTV’s official microblog. They will control and remit nuclear accidents, and also alleviate the aftermath of accidents when they do happen.

In accordance with the framework of China's national nuclear emergency system, the team was established on the basis of existing military and nuclear industry emergency resources, a People's Daily Online report explained. The report also said that the team will lead rescue work for serious accidents, including international nuclear emergency rescues.

China has long prioritized the maintenance of a nuclear emergency system, ever since the Chernobyl accident in 1986. China first established a national nuclear accident emergency committee in 1995.