China Aiding Pakistan's Nuclear Ambitions

China Privately Agrees To Provide Nuclear Reactors Used For Energy Production

(CBS)  The following was written by CBS News' Farhan Bokhari, reporting from Islamabad.

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China has privately agreed to follow a "step-by-step" approach to fulfilling Pakistan’s aspiration for an expanded nuclear energy program, rather than sign an ambitious civil nuclear program of the kind recently struck between the U.S. and India, senior Pakistani and Western officials said on Thursday.

Private discussions are believed to have been held on expanded nuclear cooperation between Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese leaders during Zardari’s four-day visit to China, which began Tuesday.

A senior Pakistani government official, familiar with discussions between Zardari and Chinese officials, claimed Thursday that China had agreed to “consider further nuclear power reactors to fulfill our needs. The relationship (on the nuclear issue) remains intact”. Speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity, the official added, “there is now a complete understanding on our future cooperation”.

China has installed a 325-Megawatts nuclear power reactor at Chashma, in Pakistan’s central Punjab province. Beijing is also currently working to install a second power reactor of the same capacity there. In ten years, Pakistan plans to produce up to 8,000 Megawatts of electricity using nuclear energy.

In addition to the two Chashma reactors, Pakistan has one Canadian-supplied nuclear energy reactor with a capacity of 137-Megawatts. Western diplomats say Pakistan is seeking to bridge the large gap between its installed capacity and future ambitions with Chinese help.

Western diplomats say China is interested in maintaining a stable relationship with Pakistan for a number of reasons: China sees its relationship with Pakistan as a way to counter-balance growing U.S. ties with India. In the long term, China also considers Pakistan as a conduit to expand trade with the oil rich Middle East to improve its economic and energy-related interests.

However, a second Pakistani official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said China is eager to avoid a direct confrontation with the West on its nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan. “China is not seeking a head-on clash with anyone. It wants to broaden its relations with Pakistan but without the risk of a stiff U.S. reaction,” said the official.

U.S. reluctance to offer a civil nuclear power agreement to Pakistan stems mainly from revelations in 2004 that Abdul Qadeer Khan, the founder of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, traded nuclear secrets and technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea. Khan has remained effectively under house arrest since then.

Requests from the Western officials, notably the U.S., to interview Khan have all been denied by the Pakistani government.

[incog-nito]

So what? The U.S. is actively aiding China''s economic ambitions by outsourcing jobs to them at the expense of the American worker.

[lmartink]

Why people continue to buy Chinese products is beyond me. They have global ambitions that are frightening, and they will do anything to make a buck (read $ U.S. dollars).

In fact, whether its loaning us billions to spend in bombing Iraq, or selling us toxic products, they are against us every step of the way.

Of course they will aid and abet our enemies. Just like we helped the Mujahadeen oust the Soviets from Afghanistan. It''s part of the global conquest game, and they are whipping our buts.

[docpeter1953]

Why people continue to buy Chinese products is beyond me. They have global ambitions that are frightening, and they will do anything to make a buck (read $ U.S. dollars).

In fact, whether its loaning us billions to spend in bombing Iraq, or selling us toxic products, they are against us every step of the way.
__________

Unfortunately Pakistan is SUPPOSED to be our friend and ally, yeah right, not since Musarif was kicked out.

Why is China profiting from Panistan and America is not, especially after all of the money we borrowed from China to give to Pakistan?

Hasn''t it been noticed that anyone we support in that region, throughout history, has come back and bit the hand that fed them?

[pugster]

Geez, when other countries want clean power instead burning oil for gas for electricity and the US is bashing China and Pakistan for it.

[lixiangmei45]

how do you explain American"s soupport for Iseral''developing of nuclear arms.America will do whatever they can to keep it''s as the world superpower.just because we don''t have the same values as you does''t mean we don''t keep our rlues when we do bussines.open your eyes Amerians.

[summarex]

What nuclear ambitions?
Pakistan is already a nuclear state.
What are you servants of Israel trying to pull?
Whatever it is stop using America.

[petro49l]

The Middle East region has bumper crops of a standard cannabis and poppies. Plants make excellent medicine. But, what about Al Qada''s narcotics deals? They make street heroin from illegally-graded poppies. The sales for Junkies reaps a tremendous profit. Al Qada is a powerful crime syndicate. They have money to do what they want.

[good4always]

PAKISTAN DOES NOT NEED AMERICA HELP IN ANYTHING ANYWAY. PAKISTAN CAN WIPE OFF AMERICA IN ANY MINUTE ANY TIME IT WISHES.....

....AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON USA IS SCARED OF PAKISTAN SO BIG TIME THAT IT GIVES MONEY AND ALL KIND OF THINGS TO KEEP THEM FROM NOT ATTACKING USA.

[legacyabq]

Good4Always:
OK, pakistan has an army, but, really, let''s get serious:
"pakistan could wipe out america any time it wants"???????

Get a grip dude, you have been badly misinformed.
Pakistan does NOT have ICBM''s, like we do, so if thats what you mean, well, yer wrong..
Short range nukes, yes..ICBM''s? No.
Anyway, what country do you think this is bucko??
America may have embarrassaed itself of late,
buy by God we''re still the USA, and our military is frighteningly awesome when it''s in full force..
And I''m a liberal, so you can imag

[legacyabq]

Good4Always:
OK, pakistan has an army, but, really, let''s get serious:
"pakistan could wipe out america any time it wants"???????

Get a grip dude, you have been badly misinformed.
Pakistan does NOT have ICBM''s, like we do, so if thats what you mean, well, yer wrong..
Short range nukes, yes..ICBM''s? No.
Anyway, what country do you think this is bucko??
America may have embarrassaed itself of late,
buy by God we''re still the USA, and our military is frighteningly awesome when it''s in full force..
And I''m a liberal, so you can imag

[legacyabq]

Good4Always:
OK, pakistan has an army, but, really, let''s get serious:
"pakistan could wipe out america any time it wants"???????

Get a grip dude, you have been badly misinformed.
Pakistan does NOT have ICBM''s, like we do, so if thats what you mean, well, yer wrong..
Short range nukes, yes..ICBM''s? No.
Anyway, what country do you think this is bucko??
America may have embarrassaed itself of late,
buy by God we''re still the USA, and our military is frighteningly awesome when it''s in full force..
And I''m a liberal, so you can imag

[legacyabq]

Good4Always:
OK, pakistan has an army, but, really, let''s get serious:
"pakistan could wipe out america any time it wants"???????

Get a grip dude, you have been badly misinformed.
Pakistan does NOT have ICBM''s, like we do, so if thats what you mean, well, yer wrong..
Short range nukes, yes..ICBM''s? No.
Anyway, what country do you think this is bucko??
America may have embarrassaed itself of late,
buy by God we''re still the USA, and our military is frighteningly awesome when it''s in full force..
And I''m a liberal, so you can imag

[legacyabq]

Good4Always:
OK, pakistan has an army, but, really, let''s get serious:
"pakistan could wipe out america any time it wants"???????

Get a grip dude, you have been badly misinformed.
Pakistan does NOT have ICBM''s, like we do, so if thats what you mean, well, yer wrong..
Short range nukes, yes..ICBM''s? No.
Anyway, what country do you think this is bucko??
America may have embarrassaed itself of late,
buy by God we''re still the USA, and our military is frighteningly awesome when it''s in full force..
And I''m a liberal, so you can imag

[legacyabq]

Good4Always:
OK, pakistan has an army, but, really, let''s get serious:
"pakistan could wipe out america any time it wants"???????

Get a grip dude, you have been badly misinformed.
Pakistan does NOT have ICBM''s, like we do, so if thats what you mean, well, yer wrong..
Short range nukes, yes..ICBM''s? No.
Anyway, what country do you think this is bucko??
America may have embarrassaed itself of late,
buy by God we''re still the USA, and our military is frighteningly awesome when it''s in full force..
And I''m a liberal, so you can imag

[legacyabq]

..imagine what everyone else will say about it!!

LOL

[legacyabq]

Sorry everyone I have no idea why it repeated my post like that!!!

SORRY

[easeup-2009]

That''s it. I am boycotting every 7-11, Kwik-E-Mart & Convenient store from now on!! My SlimJims, Slushies and lottery tickets are NOT going to fund a nuclear Pakistan!

[markavelli2]

Gotta love that, nothing like Other countries selling technology we gave/sold them to countries our Gov isnt so fond of. Then again, Russia could have given the chinese Nuke tech...but the U.S. gave Canada its nuke Tech.

[nincomp]

The U.S. prefers to do business with foreign nations who play by the rules and who have strong moral values in line with Christian values as much as possible.

Posted by downtooearth at 02:14 AM : Oct 17, 2008
+ report abuse

If US had played by the rules it wouldn''t have signed Nuclear deal with India, since Congress passed the law that US will not transfer nuclear technology to any country that hadn''t signed the NPT. And India is not a christian country. They are actually killing christians in india these days.

[antoniof123]

Posted by legacyABQ at 11:19 AM : Oct 17, 2008

I totally agree with you but here is another reason.

Bikini Island was destroyed by a 15 megaton blast leaving a hole in the ocean floor over 200 feet deep. Now a few years after that in the mid 1950''s not to be out done the Soviet Union let lose with a 50 megaton blast in the Artic circle. Now while many will argue over it usefullness understand this people for 52 nano seconds it realeased 2 PERCENT OF THE SUNS OUTPUT. They were going to test a 100 megaton bomb but decided against it. They claimed radition but the truth is when they saw the power of just 50 megatons (the shock wave was felt 4 times around the earth) they knew that there was no telling what the final effect would be.

Now think about this we have over 14,000 nukes so does Russia and China. Add all that up and see what a thermal nuclar war leads too.

[good4always]

PAKISTAN HAS CREATED THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN USA.

PAKISTAN DOES NOT NEED AMERICA HELP IN ANYTHING ANYWAY. PAKISTAN CAN WIPE OFF AMERICA IN ANY MINUTE ANY TIME IT WISHES.....

....AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON USA IS SCARED OF PAKISTAN SO BIG TIME THAT IT GIVES MONEY AND ALL KIND OF THINGS TO KEEP THEM FROM NOT ATTACKING USA.

[good4always]

USA IS SCARED OF PAKISTAN SO BIG TIME THAT IT GIVES MONEY AND ALL KIND OF THINGS TO KEEP THEM FROM NOT ATTACKING USA.

PAKISTAN DOES NOT NEED AMERICA HELP IN ANYTHING ANYWAY. PAKISTAN CAN WIPE OFF AMERICA IN ANY MINUTE ANY TIME IT WISHES.....

NOW THE USA MIGHT BE LOOKING DESPARATELY FOR PAKISTAN''S HELP TO HELP THEM IN THEIR FINANCIAL CRISIS.

[good4always]

WHO GAVE NUKE TECH TO INDIA? ...... (I so really want to know that how many people really know the REAL answer.)

[explorubus]

the west secretlty helped india get nucs in the i970s in response to chinese nuclear tests. not everyone knows this fact. worse, they kept on helping india in its nucs program till 2001. I am pretty sure they regret it all now, since india is emerging as a future competitor and a threat to the western interests.

[explorubus]

...and they just had to officialize this hypocracy.

[srz25]

I CANNOT ENCOURAGE THERMONUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON ENOUGH:

yeah hi, do you believe a judge should go to prison for attempting to rule that attempted murder by forcible suffocation not only isn''''''''t a crime at all in florida, it isn''''''''t a tort at all in florida, in fact it''''''''s a medical procedure, for which priviledge i''''''''m forced to give the state my whole life savings?

doesn''''''''t that sound bad?

this is a real lawsuit, orange co. case # 2003 ca 5314. i am totally unrepresented, haven''''''''t been able to find a lawyer in 7 years. the judge is cynthia mackinnon, and if i could fire her i would have fired her four years ago. after all this time i still have no clue whether she is republican or democrat.