US-India, China-Pakistan Forge new nuclear alliances
Pastor Dale Morgan
19 November, 2006
USA – INDIA – PAKISTAN – CHINA
*US-India, China-Pakistan Forge new nuclear alliances*
US Senate backs nuclear deal with India, but Pakistan and China are
unwilling to stay on sidelines. Islamabad conducts a new missile test,
whilst reports say Chinese president might announce expanded military
cooperation with Pakistan.
Washington (AsiaNewsWires) – The US Senate has approved a nuclear
cooperation deal with India. China, meanwhile, is to announce closer
cooperation in the field of nuclear energy with Pakistan.
Senators, by a margin of 85 to 12, adopted a bill that would enhance
US-Indian cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear power. India, in
turn, would allow international inspections in its reactors, even though
it is not a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty.
The Senate bill and a version passed by the House of Representatives,
the lower house of the US Congress, must now be reconciled and approved
by Mr Bush before the legislation can take effect.
US president Bush hailed the deal, saying that as “India's economy
continues to grow, this partnership will help [. . .] meet its energy
needs without increasing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions”.
However, others are not as pleased by the announcement believing that
the deal will constitute a precedent and will make it harder for the US
to hold a hard-line position against the nuclear ambitions of Iran and
North Korea.
Pakistan might be the first country though to break ranks after
Washington rebuffed Islamabad’ demand for the same kind of cooperation.
Now Pakistani leaders are openly toying with the China card, whilst
Beijing is interested in containing US influence in the region.
Some analysts believe that Chinese President Hu Jintao will offer
Pakistan help to build new nuclear power stations in his upcoming visit
to that country.
“The political intent is quite certain. The specifics are less certain,
but this will be a political gesture above all,” a diplomatic observer
in Beijing said.
Any agreement will show that China values its "all-weather friend"
Pakistan, even while Beijing courts India, a sometimes bitter rival of
both countries.
When Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf visited Beijing in February,
both sides announced they would "continue strengthening co-operation in
the peaceful use of nuclear energy".
Experts believe that Mr Hu will talk about the state of Sino-Pakistani
relations but also reassure the international community that any nuclear
co-operation would be for peaceful purposes only and would accept
international safeguards.
Pakistan and India have staged regular nuclear tests following the first
one in May 1998. The latest was conducted yesterday by Pakistan in an
undisclosed area.