Pakistan to get 2 nuclear reactors from China

[Jazzbot]

some 600 - 650 odd MW's..
not sure about exact figure though

 

[Marxist]

China-Pakistan n-deal must satisfy IAEA: EU

Amid India's concerns over the China-Pakistan nuclear deal, the European Union's chief diplomat Catherine Ashton said Wednesday that any such arrangement should respect the IAEA guidelines.

'The EU is not a member of the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group). The EU wants to ensure that the proliferation of nuclear technologies does not take place,' Ashton, on a four-day visit to India, told reporters here.

She was responding to a question on the EU's stand on a Chinese plan to build two new nuclear reactors for Pakistan, which is expected to be taken up by the NSG at its plenary in New Zealand Thursday.

'The EU has no problems with peaceful use of nuclear energy. Whatever arrangements are made have to be within the purview of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),' said Ashton, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and the first vice president of the European Commission.

Ashton held delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday to firm up the agenda of the forthcoming India-EU summit in Brussels in October.

She met Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Home Minister P. Chidambaram and discussed issues relating to immigration and counter-terrorism.

Concerned about the China-Pakistan nuclear deal, India has sought more details from Beijing and has conveyed its reservations to influential countries of the NSG, many of whom are members of the nuclear cartel which controls the flow of global atomic trade.

India signed its first bilateral civil nuclear deal with France in September 2008, following a waiver by the NSG that exempted New Delhi from the current rules of global nuclear commerce which forbids such trade with countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

China has confirmed that Chinese and Pakistani officials have signed an agreement to finance the construction of two nuclear reactors to be built by the China National Nuclear Corp at Chashma in Pakistan.

China earlier built two reactors for Pakistan before joining the NSG in 2004.

China-Pakistan n-deal must satisfy IAEA: EU

 

[nawazshahzad]

Despite serious objections being raised by both the US and India over China’s offer to help Pakistan build two nuclear reactors, a couple of Chinese companies have already signed contracts with Islamabad in this regard.

The China Nuclear Industry Fifth Construction Company (CNIFCC) and the CNNC China Zhongyuan Engineering Corp, which specialise in foreign nuclear projects, have agreed to work together on the third and fourth reactors at the Chashma nuclear complex in Punjab, said a statement posted on the website of the construction company.

The deal was signed on June 8, said the website- cnfc.net.cn.Meanwhile, Beijing has reiterated that China and Pakistan were working in the spirit of equality and mutual benefit, and that both countries are committed to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“We have been cooperating in this spirit,” The Daily Times quoted the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Qin Gang, as saying.

Both the US and India had raised concerns over China’s overtures to Pakistan, as they see a high proliferation risk in Pakistan, which has a history of providing ‘illegal’ nuclear know-how’s to countries such as Libya, Iran and North Korea. (ANI)

Source: Pakistan Ideology

Nawaz

 

[LightsHope]

Excellent, this is what you want from a real "Ally".

 

[Hafizzz]

India is currently trying to lobby as many countries as possible to oppose the Civilian Nuclear Deal between Pakistan and China. How ironic , when India is signing Nuke Deal all over the world.

 

[RescueRanger]

President Zardari to visit China in July

BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari will visit China in early July, Beijing said Tuesday while reiterating its defence of the two countries' nuclear cooperation.

Zardari will visit from July 6 to 11, meeting President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.

He said he had no information on whether any trade or other agreements would be signed during the trip.

Last month, the United States said it had asked China to clarify the details of a nuclear reactor deal between the two sides.

The state-run China National Nuclear Corporation has agreed to finance two civilian nuclear reactors in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The deal comes after China in 2004 entered the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a group of nuclear energy states that forbids exports to nations lacking strict International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said earlier the deal must be approved by the NSG and Washington sought further information from Beijing.

Qin on Tuesday repeated earlier Chinese statements that the two nation's nuclear cooperation was in line with international accords.

“The civilian nuclear energy cooperation between China and Pakistan is completely in line with the international obligation of nuclear non-proliferation and is completely for peaceful purposes and subject to IAEA safeguards and supervision,” he said.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | President Zardari to visit China in July

 

[applesauce]

India is currently trying to lobby as many countries as possible to oppose the Civilian Nuclear Deal between Pakistan and China. How ironic , when India is signing Nuke Deal all over the world.

guess we get to see how much influence they have(assuming china is dead set on this nuclear deal already)

 

[bc040400065]

Zardari to visit China during joint military excercise; nuke deal likely


Saibal Dasgupta, TNN,
Jun 29, 2010, 06.55pm IST

BEIJING: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is visiting Beijing during the joint military exercise between China and his country on the Muslim dominated border region of Ningxia early next month. During the visit, Zardari is likely to push Chinese leaders to take a final decision on the propose sale of nuclear power reactors.

Going by remarks by the Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday, he is pretty close to achieving his goal while offering to help China curb Uighur separatists in the China-Pakistan border region. Beijing is simultaneously wooing the Pakistani government and wooing fundamentalists forces like Jamat-e-Islami for this purpose.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said his country's civilian nuclear cooperation with Pakistan is not aimed at any third country. Sino-Pakistan cooperation is in line with international non-proliferation regime, he said. But Qin did not reply a question on whether Beijing was likely to discuss the matter with India.

Zardari will meet Chinese president Hu Jintao, premier Wen Jiabao and the country's top political advisor Jia Qinglin during his visit between July 6 and 11.

The timing of the visit is significant because the armies of the two countries are scheduled to hold their third joint counter-terrorism exercise at Qingtongxia in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from July 1 to 11.
Qin said China appreciated the steps taken by Pakistani government to crack down on the evil forces of terrorism and separatism. It would continue to cooperate with Islamabad on the issue.

He skirted a question on whether China would obtain clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group about its plans to sell additional civilian nuclear reactors to Pakistan.

"We hope this visit will help push forward China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership," Qin said. The three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism had brought common threats to both China and Pakistan and other nations in the region, he said.

Fan Jishe, a scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has argued that the nature of the Sino-Pakistani deal on nuclear energy is different from that of the US-India agreement.

"We do not need an exemption from the NSG, as requested by the US, since the deal was reached before we joined the group," Fan said.


Zardari to visit China during joint military excercise; nuke deal likely - China - World - The Times of India

 

[bc040400065]

President Zardari to visit China in July

Tuesday, 29 Jun, 2010

BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari will visit China in early July, Beijing said Tuesday while reiterating its defence of the two countries' nuclear cooperation.
Zardari will visit from July 6 to 11, meeting President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.

He said he had no information on whether any trade or other agreements would be signed during the trip.

Last month, the United States said it had asked China to clarify the details of a nuclear reactor deal between the two sides.

The state-run China National Nuclear Corporation has agreed to finance two civilian nuclear reactors in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The deal comes after China in 2004 entered the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a group of nuclear energy states that forbids exports to nations lacking strict International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said earlier the deal must be approved by the NSG and Washington sought further information from Beijing.

Qin on Tuesday repeated earlier Chinese statements that the two nation's nuclear cooperation was in line with international accords.

“The civilian nuclear energy cooperation between China and Pakistan is completely in line with the international obligation of nuclear non-proliferation and is completely for peaceful purposes and subject to IAEA safeguards and supervision,” he said.


DAWN.COM | Pakistan | President Zardari to visit China in July

 

[bc040400065]

Pakistani president to visit key ally China amid US concern about nuclear co-operation

By The Associated Press (CP) – 5 hours ago

BEIJING, China — Pakistan's president will visit China next week, the Chinese government said Tuesday, defending the countries' co-operation in nuclear power that has raised concerns in Washington.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a regular briefing Tuesday that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will visit China July 6-11.

It will be Zardari's fifth visit to China since he assumed office in September 2008, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said in Islamabad, adding Zardari aims to strengthen economic and commercial relations.

Zardari will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders, Qin said. He could not provide specific details on what would be discussed.

Qin, however, defended China's co-operation with Pakistan in developing nuclear energy when asked to respond to remarks by U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley Monday about China's 2008 agreement to build two nuclear-power plants in its energy-starved neighbour.

"I'd like to point out that civilian and nuclear energy co-operation between China and Pakistan is completely in line with the international obligations of nuclear nonproliferation, and it's completely for peaceful purposes," Qin said. He added that the co-operation was subject to the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards and supervision.

Crowley said Monday that Washington was seeking more information from China. "We have a view that this initiative, as it goes forward, would need the agreement of the Nuclear Suppliers Group," he told reporters, referring to an alliance of 46 countries that seek to limit the spread of nuclear-related equipment.

China, a major investor and arms supplier for Pakistan, shares Islamabad's fierce regional rivalry with India.

Pakistan, which began operating its first nuclear power station with Canadian assistance in 1972, has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the main international agreement meant to stem the spread of nuclear weapons technology. China signed the NPT in the 1990s.

The Canadian Press: Pakistani president to visit key ally China amid US concern about nuclear co-operation

 

[Hafizzz]

guess we get to see how much influence they have(assuming china is dead set on this nuclear deal already)

The biggest problem won't come from India but from anti-China and anti-Islam countries such as USA , Japan and all the other Western Countries.

 

[oct605032048]

They can't stop the cooperation of China & Pakistan, what they can do is to increase the political cost.

BTW, the time of India made a mistake that NINGXIA is not a border region.

 

[Marxist]

BEIJING July 5 (Reuters) - Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari visits China from Tuesday, following mounting signs that Chinese companies are moving ahead with plans to build two reactors at the Chashma nuclear complex in Punjab province.

Here is an explanation about those plans and why some other governments are concerned.

WHAT IS THE CHASHMA COMPLEX?

Chashma in Pakistan's Punjab province is the site of a nuclear power complex built using Chinese expertise and designs. One 300 megawatt pressurized water reactor began commercial operation in 2000, and Chinese companies are building another one likely to be finished in 2011 or 2012.

Chinese nuclear companies have also unveiled plans to build another two bigger reactors at Chashma in coming years. They have not issued detailed information about when they will start, but contracts have been signed and financing is being secured.

WHY IS CHINA HELPING BUILD MORE REACTORS THERE?

Converging foreign policy and commercial motives appear to be driving China's decision.

Pakistan is a long-standing partner of China, and Beijing believes it is important to back Pakistan to counter Indian regional dominance. It is also wary of growing U.S. sway across South Asia.

Pakistan faces increasing power shortages, and demand is likely to keep growing quickly as the country's population expands.

There's also a commercial pull, said Mark Hibbs of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Chinese nuclear companies want to win foreign markets, and for now Pakistan is virtually the only "springboard" they have to hone their skills abroad and nurture the expertise that they hope will later find customers in other parts of the world.

ARE THERE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION RISKS?

In theory, Pakistan could at some later date take spent fuel from Chashma to reprocess for plutonium that could be used for nuclear weapons.

In practice, however, the International Atomic Energy Agency keeps safeguards at Chashma to prevent that happening, said Hibbs. China would keep control of the spent fuel to ensure it is not at risk of diversion to weapons programmes, he said.

"There would be no connection between the fuel and reactors provided by China and Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme," he said.

SO WHAT ARE OTHER GOVERNMENTS WORRIED ABOUT?

Some of the worry is about Pakistan, and some is about the integrity of nuclear non-proliferation rules. There are those, including many commentators in India, who say Pakistan is so dogged by instability and militant pressures that it should not receive nuclear technology, which could be the target of attacks.

Also, leading Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan was an important illicit broker of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, and critics say that is another reason to worry.

The more broadly shared worry is that, however safe Chashma may be, expanding the nuclear complex there could be a fresh blow to the integrity of nuclear non-proliferation rules.

Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons, and both countries refuse to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which would oblige them to scrap those weapons.

The NPT rules say that if countries not authorised to possess nuclear weapons want to receive nuclear materials from countries adhering to the Treaty, they should accept comprehensive safeguard agreements for their nuclear activities.

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

For now, the main arena for addressing this issue is the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a 46-member body that seeks to ensure nuclear exports are not diverted to non-peaceful purposes.

To receive nuclear exports, nations that are not one of the five officially recognised 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 agreement with India in 2008, it won a waiver from that rule from the NSG after contentious negotiations. Washington and other governments have said China should at least seek a similar exemption for the planned reactors in Pakistan.

But there is little likelihood of all 46 member governments of the NSG voting in favour of a waiver, and this is a group that operates by consensus, said Hibbs.

Q&A-Why the attention on Pakistan's Chashma nuclear complex? | Energy & Oil | Reuters

 

[Hafizzz]

This is how India sees thing :

Eye on India, China may send back Pak prez empty-handed
Eye on India, China may send back Pak prez empty-handed - China - World - The Times of India

Pakistan will get Nuclear Reactors......keep dreaming India. LOL

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

India is currently trying to lobby as many countries as possible to oppose the Civilian Nuclear Deal between Pakistan and China. How ironic , when India is signing Nuke Deal all over the world.

what else can you expect from these people....let them cry over it