Lawmaker objects to China helping Pak build nuclear reactors

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Oct 24 (PTI) A critic of the Indo-U.S.
nuclear deal has raised objections over China helping Pakistan
in building two new atomic reactors, saying that the agreement
flouts the norms established by the N.S.G. and would further
"destabilise" South Asia.

"The Peoples' Republic of China has had a long history of
nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. This history made China and
Pakistan likely candidates for future nuclear cooperation in
violation of N.S.G. guidelines, which was always a concern for
those of us who opposed Indo-U.S. nuclear deal,"
Massachussetts Democratic Congressman Edward Markey said in
his October 23 letter to the Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice.

Markey said, "Unfortunately, our concerns appear to be
borne out in the events that are unfolding right now, which
must be considered a direct consequence of the U.S.-India
nuclear deal."

"I strongly opposed the U.S.-India nuclear cooperation
deal on the grounds that it would gravely damage the vitally
important nonproliferation regime. A key concern raised by
this agreement was that waiving the international rules for
India would set a precedent for other nations to flout
international nuclear nonproliferation export controls for
their allies or trading partners," he said.

China has built one nuclear reactor 'Chashma I' in
Pakistan and is currently nearing completion of 'Chashma II'.
The contracts for these reactors existed before China received
membership in the N.S.G. in 2004 and because of this China was
allowed to complete work on them.

"It is vital to note that the provision of new nuclear
reactors to Pakistan would violate the N.S.G. guidelines, as
Pakistan does not allow full-scope International Atomic
Energy Agency safeguards" the Democratic lawmaker has said.

"... Any new nuclear reactors provided by China to
Pakistan would have been contracted for after China's entrance
into the NSG, and therefore be impermissible according to the
NSG guidelines," Markey wrote in the letter which will be
replied within a two week time.

"Has the Department of State confirmed with either
Pakistan or China, or both, that an agreement has been reached
on the provision of any additional nuclear reactors other than
Chashma I and II?; Would the provision of a nuclear reactor to
Pakistan by China, contracted for after China's entrance into
the N.S.G., violate the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers'
Group? Has the Department of State communicated to Pakistan
and China that the provision of a nuclear reactor other than
Chashma I and II to Pakistan by China would violate the
guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group?" Markey has asked
in the letter.

"If the provision by China of two additional reactors to
Pakistan (beyond Chashma I and Chashma II) does violate
N.S.G. guidelines, what actions are available to the U.S. to
protest the deal or penalise China or Pakistan? Will
administration seek to have China abandon the deal?; Will the
U.S. raise this issue at the next N.S.G. meeting in November,
2008? ;recent press reports indicate that Pakistan may request
emergency loans from the International Monetary Fund," he
said.

This raises the possibility that Pakistan could receive
international development funding at the same time that it is
entering into contracts to pay China for the construction of
nuclear reactors in violation of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group
guidelines. Would the U.S. seek to block the extension of
I.M.F. loans to Pakistan if such a nuclear agreement is under
consideration?" Markey has asked.