China's Hu set to offer Pakistan nuclear plants

[Logan13]

China's Hu set to offer Pakistan nuclear plants
Nov.16, 2006
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao is poised to unveil an ambitious expansion of nuclear power cooperation with Pakistan when he visits next week, testing China's balance between Pakistan and its wary neighbor, India.

On the first trip to Pakistan by a Chinese president in a decade, Hu is likely to announce that China will help the South Asian nation construct several nuclear plants in coming decades, said analysts and diplomatic sources.

"The political intent is quite certain. The specifics are less certain, but this will be a political gesture above all," said one diplomatic observer in Beijing. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the official secrecy around discussions.

There has been no official word of any nuclear deal during Hu's visit and Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said no new deal was imminent.

"Pakistan and China have long-standing cooperation in the civilian nuclear field and this is continuing. There are no specific agreements at the moment to be signed," she said.

Islamabad has asked China to build it up to six reactors of 600 or more megawatts, at least twice the size of the 300 megawatt reactor China built at Chashma in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab, according to the Beijing-based observer.

The broad agreement appears likely, however, to leave the scale and specifics of cooperation for future talks -- and also leave open whether China, with its own bold plans for expanding nuclear power, can spare the expertise to back Pakistan's expansion.

But even a vague agreement will remind the world that China values its "all-weather friend" Pakistan, even while Beijing courts India, a sometimes bitter rival of both countries. Hu will visit India before Pakistan.

Full Story:
http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...src=rss&rpc=22

[3Vandoo]

Nice, they will sale canadian reactor

****ing chinese bastards!

[Kärnfysikern]

there goes the NPT. China sharing nuclear technology with pakistan and america sharing nuclear technology with India.

Stupidity.

[Phreak101]

India had Ghandi, Pakistan had Arafat. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Pakistan is third world....you tell me where the stupidity lies.

[mcpeepants]

India had Ghandi, Pakistan had Arafat. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Pakistan is third world....you tell me where the stupidity lies.

Arafat is Palestinian, not Pakistani.

[Kärnfysikern]

India had Ghandi, Pakistan had Arafat. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Pakistan is third world....you tell me where the stupidity lies.

It doesnt matter one bit. What matters is that countries will se USA cooperating with a non NPT country and therefor will conclude the NPT is a joke.
Im begining to get serious doubt over how serious america is about non proliferation. I guess its ok for bush that a country has nukes aslong as they are buddy buddy for the moment

If USA and China doesnt care about the NPT why would anyone else?

[ecivon]

It doesnt matter one bit. What matters is that countries will se USA cooperating with a non NPT country and therefor will conclude the NPT is a joke.
Im begining to get serious doubt over how serious america is about non proliferation. I guess its ok for bush that a country has nukes aslong as they are buddy buddy for the moment

If USA and China doesnt care about the NPT why would anyone else?

You're right. The Bush admin. could give a crap less about the treaty -- besides it doesn't matter anyway as both India and Pakistan both have nuclear weapons already and I don't think either of them are signatory to non-proliferation. Pakistan gave nuclear capability to Iran (as did Russia) and Israel gave technology and support to India, as did the US. But your point is correct in characterizing US policy as don't do as we do, do as we say and we will determine what rules every country will play by, except us and Israel. You hear all the bs from the Bush admin on Iran and nuclear weapons and this country and that country, but not a word on Israel and Dimona.