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China denies reports of nuclear deal with Pakistan

Beijing: China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday denied reports that Beijing and Islamabad were in the process of negotiating a civilian nuclear energy agreement along the lines of the Indo-U.S. deal. “There is no such deal in the making,” said a statement from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office in response to a question posed by The Hindu.

Having been rebuffed by the United States in its attempts to secure a nuclear energy deal for Pakistan similar to the Indo-U.S. one, Islamabad has been actively seeking Beijing’s assistance instead. The matter was reportedly broached during Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to China early last year as well as during Chinese President Hu Jinato’s return visit to Islamabad later in the same year.

However, on neither occasion was any formal deal announced although Beijing reassured its “all-weather ally” of its continuing support on all strategic matters including energy cooperation. China has already provided Islamabad with assistance in installing two nuclear power plants at Chashma in the past. Pakistan has reportedly asked for assistance with the building of a number of further such plants.

China’s official media has been scathing in its response to the Indo-U.S. deal. Last week, the main Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the People’s Daily accused the deal of “double standards,” adding that it was likely to “damage the existing non-proliferation system.”

To China, the 123 Agreement has, from its inception, represented a potent strategic alliance between the United States and India aimed at counter-balancing China’s rise in the region. The ongoing political controversy in India engendered by the 123 Agreement has been discussed in detail in the official Chinese media with hopes being expressed that opposition from the Left parties will scupper the deal.

It is the United States that is identified in outright negative terms in these commentaries, with the People’s Daily accusing the U.S. of “hegemonic ideas” and being unconcerned about “others’ opinions. ” The newspaper went on to assert that the U.S. clearly intends to draw “India in as a tool for its global strategic pattern.”

India, on the other hand, is not directly criticised and is instead described as “wanting to seize the opportunity to rise as a big power,” out of “practical political considerations.”

The People’s Daily commentary ended with the hope that “India’s DNA doesn’t allow itself to become an ally subordinate to the U.S., like Japan or Britain.”

China’s support for the Indo-U.S. deal will be crucial at the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG).

While Beijing has been ambiguous about its intentions if the deal is put before the NSG, some analysts have stated that China may attempt to force through an exception for Pakistan as well, as a precondition to its acquiescing to the agreement.

Most experts, however, feel that if push comes to shove, China will not risk the international censure it will face for entering into a nuclear deal with a known proliferator such as Pakistan.

“China and Pakistan already have some cooperation in nuclear energy. That cooperation will continue but I do not see any special deal like the U.S.-India agreement emerging” says Professor Rong Ying, a South Asia analyst at the China Institute for International Relations. He concludes, “I think China realises such a deal with Pakistan would not be good for China.”

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