From Overseas Press

Pakistan and China move closer in nuclear embrace

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-07-06 09:49

CHINA TIGHT-LIPPED

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has been tight-lipped about the deal to build the reactors at Chashma, but a trickle of announcements from Chinese nuclear companies shows they are preparing to start work at the site.

Chashma also offers Chinese nuclear exporters an opportunity to hone their prowess in building reactors abroad, said Mark Hibbs, a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who has closely followed developments over Chashma.

"The Chinese nuclear companies see Pakistan as a springboard," said Hibbs, noting Beijing's ambitions to expand its exports of reactors. "This additional construction project at Chashma helps keep them in the game."

But Beijing faces international worries about the expansion. China is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a 46-country body that seeks to regulate atomic technology exports.

To receive nuclear exports, nations that are not one of the five officially recognized atomic weapons states must usually place all their nuclear activities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, say NSG rules.

When the United States sealed its nuclear power agreement with India in 2008, it wrangled a waiver from that rule. Washington has said China should seek a similar exemption for the planned reactors in Pakistan.

But Beijing stayed tight-lipped about Chashma at an NSG meeting last month and has not publicly sought an exemption. Such a bid would probably be opposed by some member states worried about Pakistan or what they see as the damaging precedent of another waiver to the usual nuclear export rules, said Hibbs.

"If there were an exemption process, it would be a Pandora's Box," he said.

As alternatives, China may ignore the NSG altogether-its rules are voluntary-or claim the planned Chashma plants were "grandfathered" under an agreement in place when China joined the Group in 2004, and so do not need another waiver. Outside of China, few governments or experts believe that claim.

Western powers ultimately may have to choose between protecting ties with Beijing and Pakistan or risking a diplomatic brawl.

"People don't want to get into an immediate fight with China before it seems absolutely necessary," said Small.