China’s nuclear industry has developed for over 70 years, playing a crucial role in optimizing the energy structure, ensuring energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and building a clean, low-carbon, and efficient energy system. As one of the leading countries in nuclear energy, China’s advancements have contributed significantly to addressing the energy crisis and achieving its “dual carbon” goals. However, the use of nuclear energy inevitably carries risks, and even under the highest safety standards, the possibility of nuclear accidents cannot be completely eliminated. Nuclear damagediffers significantly from general torts, with unique characteristics such as its unforeseeable nature, extensive and long-lasting impact, and wide range of victims, making compensation for nuclear damage distinct from ordinary tort liability. Thus it is necessary to establish a specialized nuclear damage liability system. Such a system would incorporate principles like strict liability principle, operator sole liability principle to balance the interests of victims and nuclear operators while promoting social stability. Establishing a specialized legal framework for nuclear liability is not only essential for safeguarding public rights and mitigating the consequences of nuclear accidents but also for ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of the civil nuclear industry. This will also support China’s strategic goals of achieving carbon neutrality and fostering an efficient, safe, and low-carbon energy future.