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U.S. Backs Chinese Membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group
The United States has decided to support China’s effort to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group — a 40-member body that establishes export control regulations for nuclear trade — despite concerns over Beijing’s past proliferation record and its current plans to provide Pakistan with nuclear reactors, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 27). “We’re supporting their membership,” a State Department spokesman said. “They are a significant nuclear supplier, have a good enough nonproliferation record and have made significant improvements in exports controls on nuclear and dual-use items,” he said. Officials said that there had been debate within the administration over supporting China’s membership bid, with State Department moderates backing the move while a more hard-line faction, led by Undersecretary of State John Bolton, voiced its opposition. The United States sought assurances from China in recent days that nuclear reactors Beijing plans to sell to Pakistan would be subject to international safeguards, but has yet to receive a satisfactory response, an official said. “We’ve approached China about some of our concerns; we’re still awaiting a response back,” the official said (Carol Giacomo, Reuters/Yahoo!News, May 11).
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