China-pakistan Nuke Deal Under Intense Scrutiny

A proposed plan for China to provide Pakistan with two civilian nuclear plants has

prompted intense scrutiny from officials in Washington and Delhi.

The deal, to construct two 650-megawatt reactors at Chashma in Punjab, would increase the number of civilian reactors in Pakistan to four, with one previously built reactor already dedicated to military use. Although India and the United States have stopped short of publicly condemning the nuclear trade, both countries made it clear that the transfer must fall under the guidelines of international law.

Nuclear trade is governed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a 46-member body that represents the worlds nuclear equipment, fuel, and technology-exporting countries. China joined the organization in 2004.

In a June 15 statement regarding the issue, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that the matter was under examination. The result of this examination will reveal whether the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines have been applied in this case, she said.

According to analysis by Mark Hibbs, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, China has several options to export the reactors. China can formally request an exemption from NSG guidelines for the trade, as the United States received for its nuclear trade with India in 2008, or China can claim the export is grandfathered by a previous agreement with Pakistan signed before joining the NSG.

China can also exercise its sovereign right and ignore the guidelines, which are voluntary and non-binding, wrote Hibbs.

U.S. officials have requested for more clarification on the deal, although the State Department ruled out at least one method China could use to build the reactors.

This appears to extend beyond cooperation that was grandfathered when China was approved for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, said State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley at a June 15 press conference.

With the NSGs annual five-day meeting set to begin next week in New Zealand, China may have an opportunity to disclose its intentions to export the technology and begin shoring up support from NSG-member countries for an exemption.

by: Dezan Shira & Associates

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