While the US has at least proclaimed its intent to consider India on its own terms and not as a part of the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan, not so China, which has responded to the US nuclear deal with India by announcing its intention to supply two power reactors to Pakistan. And, as always, India has been left fumbling around in response.
The Chinese and Pakistanis were livid over the Indo-US nuclear deal, which they fear gives India access to more domestic uranium for making bombs. The US refused a similar deal for Pakistan citing its notorious proliferation history, especially AQ Khan’s ‘nuclear Wal-Mart’. Pakistan looked for help from China, its all-weather ally, and after some dithering China is apparently ready to risk facing US and world opprobrium by exporting the two reactors.
At the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group meeting in New Zealand, China argued that the reactor sales are grandfathered from its previous atomic deal with Pakistan that came before it joined the NSG, so it doesn't need permission for the new deal.
India hasn't for its part initiated a vigorous diplomatic response toward China, but instead brought up its reservations during the recent visit of President Pratibha Patil to Beijing. China responded unconvincingly that the deal met both China and Pakistan’s international non-proliferation obligations. Since India’s official reservations were leaked to the press, however, public opinion has once again turned against China, frustrations that the Manmohan Singh government doesn’t wish to fan. But there’s no let up in China’s strategic assistance to Pakistan against India, and in China’s reckoning, the India-Pak ‘hyphen’ is alive and beneficial.
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Faheem
US opened the door to deals like China’s by pursuing a deal with India that will provide nuclear materials and technology to a country that is a non-signatory of the NPT and thus outside international inspection requirements. The US and western countries have an egregious record of displaying double standards.
China should realise the kind of unipolar world the USA wants, and how detrimental would be the combination of the USA and India in working against its interests, which at present include bringing the nuclear deal with Pakistan to fruition.
M
For a nation that loudly champions 1. Nuclear egalitarianism to obtain backdoor access to nuclear club and 2. Sanctity of bilateralism between any two sovereign states free of all third party interferences; it is bemusing to see her squirm when the tables are turned. India as the older sibling has to earn its way into these privileged clubs by some deft moves. Pakistan simply sits back, bides time and gets the same status eventually as a spoiled younger sibling!!!!How unfair?
Imagine India getting a UN seat only to see Pakistan worm its way in a year later and demand Kashmir resolutions to be implemented without delay??????????
In the meantime India does look like a hypocrite by complaining to NSG nations about pakistan being unqualified when only a year ago she was begging the same ungrateful crowd.
As far as China-Pak affairs are concerned, well there is no room for a (unwelcome) third (read India) party in this bilateral relationship. Bharat has no locus standii in this vibrant relationship.
India just keeps demeaning herself to others just to spite its neighbor.
Not a very smart policy?????
Quadri
Pakistan is the worlds worst NUCLEAR PROLIFERATOR as it passed nuclear tech to North Korea and Iran. It is like handing a fiery torch to a monkey in a dry forest. The only result will be more proliferation and disaster
Magnus T.M.
Why is it that I never hear Indians thanking Canada for proliferating nuclear technology to India by selling CANDU reactors to her?
Carlos de Souza
To Magnus T.M. (Gora)
For the same reason that China never has acknowledged the HELP that the Soviet Union gave to her. Without the Soviet Union, China would never ever have become a nuclear power when they did. Also, Pakistan and North Korea have China to thank. And, in the next few years, Burma, Iran , Saudi Arabia and a few others will be thanking North Korea, Pakistan and of course CHINA.
Understood, Gora ???
Carlos.