The export license from what I understand is for the Zircalloy fuel cladding. The ongoing problem seems to be a partial fuel melt from the Chi-coms pushing the plant above the design rating and melting some fuel rods (see: Three Mile Island). The radioactive noble gasses occur when the cladding fails and the nuclear fuel is exposed to the coolant (water) while the fuel is undergoing fission. Take it for what it’s worth from a lay person. Something’s going on and it ain’t good.
Thank you for the explanation.
Not a nuke engineer, but I am familiar enough with such designs that I can see big problems if the cladding is damaged.
For instance, can you remove the rods?