Abandon nuclear weapons, China tells India

HT/ Reuters ^ | Beijing, March 2, 2006 | HT/ Reuters

[CarrotAndStick]

China urged India to abandon nuclear weapons and strengthen atomic safeguards as President George W Bush and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sealed a controversial nuclear pact on Thursday. Under the deal signed while Bush visited Delhi, the United States offered India nuclear fuel and technology in return for India agreeing to put a wall between its civilian and military nuclear facilities and place its civilian programme under international inspections.

Some US lawmakers and nuclear experts have criticised the deal, saying it weakens international safeguards, especially the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which India has refused to join.

China added its voice to these misgivings on Thursday.

India should sign the NPT and also dismantle its nuclear weapons, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, Qin Gang, told a news briefing in Beijing.

"As a signatory country, China hopes non-signatory countries will join it as soon as possible as non-nuclear weapon states, thereby contributing to strengthening the international non-proliferation regime," he said.

Qin said current international safeguards on nuclear weapons were the hard-won product of many countries' efforts and should not be weakened by exceptions.

"China hopes that concerned countries developing cooperation in peaceful nuclear uses will pay attention to these efforts. The cooperation should conform with the rules of international non-proliferation mechanisms," he said.

The NPT grants China, the United States, Russia, France and Britain status as nuclear weapons states, but bars other signatory countries from having such weapons.

China has been pursuing nuclear power cooperation with Pakistan, India's long-time rival, and has also hosted stalled six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Pyongyang withdrew from the NPT in 2003, after the United States accused it of enriching uranium for weapons.

China urged Iran on Thursday to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog and suspend nuclear enrichment activities, adding to rising international pressure on Tehran.

"China hopes Iran will fully cooperate with the agency and clarify the unresolved questions about its nuclear programme and will restore the international community's confidence in Iran," ministry spokesman Qin said.

[Brilliant]

China needs to start working with us instead of against us.

[Right Wing Assault]

You, too, China dudes.

[voletti]

Where's the barf alert?

Sure wangyang, India'll abandon nukes since you say so. Right after you, in fact....

*snickers in your knickers*

To thnk the Chicoms will lecture on nonproliferation or on the merits of denuclearisation is ludicrious.

Who armed N Korea? and Pakistan? and Myanmar?

Bah, shouldn't waste any more time on this issue.

[Names Ash Housewares]

India should say..... "OK you first."

[RightWhale]

China tested thermonuclear bombs in the sixties. Aside from threatening to turn Los Angeles into a sea of fire they have been acting like adults so far.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

China get out of Tibet and Nepal.

Do something positive about North Korea......

and then we will talk.

[RonF]

I trust India with nukes a lot more than I trust China. And if I lived next door to China, no way would I give up nukes. Just ask the Tibetians or the Taiwanese.

[garyhope]

Perhaps they should ask the fruitcake N. Koreans and the insane Islamofacist Iranian's first.

[rlmorel]

"...Aside from threatening to turn Los Angeles into a sea of fire they have been acting like adults so far."

[McGavin999]

Let's see, they haven't done anything about North Korea, then why shouldn't India have nukes? Personally, I think India should be on the security council. I also think NOBODY should be on the security council unless they contribute peacekeepers on a regular basis.

[McGavin999]

BTW, we keep hearing about how much China has grown financially, what are they paying in dues at the UN?

[NZerFromHK]

"China tested thermonuclear bombs in the sixties. Aside from threatening to turn Los Angeles into a sea of fire they have been acting like adults so far."

Well Mao Zedong's words in the 1960s suggested otherwise. And in the 1970s his rhetorics suggested otherwise because in his own words, "our nukes can only be used on a few neighboring countries."

And then in 1990s things changed again. Ever heard of "Unrestricted Warfare" by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui? Ever heard of unclear blackmail by Zhu Chengfu last year? There are even scarier rhetoric from high-ranking PLA officers that so far have escaped Western attentions since so few speak any Chinese at all.

[righttackle44]

"China added its voice to these misgivings on Thursday."

I'll bet it did.

[CarrotAndStick]

Once Taiwan gets it and a reliable Beijing-range delivery system (if not already), China's wet dreams on taking over Taiwan, are over.

[Nathan Zachary]

Why IS China on the security council? There was a time when only democratic countries were allowed in the UN. Now it seems every Koranic kook and Commie dictator is not only a member, but has taken over, and snubs the most democratic country.

[MrEdd]

It was rumored around Kadena airbase in the early 80's that Taiwan had been given the tech for the bomb. Let's just make it an all-asia party, Sheesh!

[Blzbba]

"China hopes non-signatory countries will join it as soon as possible as non-nuclear weapon states"


Is this a joke?

[ozzymandus]

Or else what, you commie gangsters?

[Paul_Denton]

you first China

[wildcatf4f3]

don't hold your breath on china cooperating with us

[JudgemAll]

So basicaly China is India's good prophet?

Bwahaha!

No, seriously, this is threatening.

[Clock King]

Uh, yea right! Let's see, China to the right of uss has the bomb, the Paks to left do as well, and India is stuck in the middle. India had the bomb back in 1974 and then abandoned it under the belief of "Let's All get rid of these terrible weapons!" Well the rest of the world conveniently ignored its own treaties and pledges (US included). So what to do if you're stuck in a bad 'hood and everybody else is armed?

[Arjun]

Those who live in glass houses....

[Kuehn12]

So far, neither country has used a nuclear weapon against someone. Unless you have an instance that the Chinese have. Given some command and control issues with India, I would have to say right now I trust the Chinese more. C&C systems, early warning systems, independent verification, are just some of the issues I have with India and Pakistan. For the longest time the conflict between those nation was the most likely place a nuclear exchange would take place. Now, I think Israel/Iran is the most likely suspects.

Question, does China actually field any nuclear weapons or just store the warheads? I know very little of the Chinese nuclear posture. Perhaps someone can help me.

[operation clinton cleanup]

The NPT is not worth the paper it is written on. India is smart not to put he future in the hands of the U.N. JFK gave nuclear technology to India decades ago with the atoms for peace project. India has shown no propensity to share A-Bomb technology with others... unlike her neighbors.

[Golden Eagle]

China needs to start working with us instead of against us.

So you're finally catching on?

[Golden Eagle]

India should sign the NPT and also dismantle its nuclear weapons, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, Qin Gang, told a news briefing in Beijing.

Ridiculous hypocrisy by China, as they are helping Pakistan and even North Korea with nuclear weapons. The NPT needs a formalized process that outlines how it can and will be modified, what are the qualifications for how you become a member, and what are penalties for not properly participating. But right now it's just chaos, as China's comments clearly highlight.

[winner3000]

Shouldn't every Al-Reuters story be accompanied by a Barf alert?

(Some US lawmakers and nuclear experts have criticised the deal)
Translation: Some Reuters reporters don't like anything Bush does.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Ridiculous hypocrisy by China, as they are helping Pakistan and even North Korea with nuclear weapons.

I agree it's ridiculous hypocrisy--by a power who disregards something to suggest its neighbor be bound by the same words said power is effectively ignoring.

The NPT needs a formalized process that outlines how it can and will be modified, what are the qualifications for how you become a member, and what are penalties for not properly participating.

The NPT isn't enforceable--and when it was written, it was never designed to be. Why? It was written during the Cold War, at a time when the possessors of nuclear arsenals were NATO (U.S. & Allies) and the Warsaw Pact (the Soviet Sphere/Communist world).

Thus it doesn't carry the weight of international law--just the honor system, where the parties are entire nations. The original parties were infact groups of nations (NATO and Warsaw Pact).

For your changes to work, there would need to be a major rewrite and reratification of the treaty--which is labor intensive, requires much ado in negotiation, and would likely be something most countries will either avoid ratification or ignore it, Effectively putting us back at square one.

Your proposal would require the creation of the NWO by significantly expanding the power of the UN, namely by the creation of a world police force, granting the UN sole power to enforce international law by any means necessary.

Such an action is unacceptable to the free world and thus cannot be a possible solution.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Not possible.

The UN has supported dictators and Communism since day one. The man Truman sent to help set up the UN, Alger Hiss, was later shown to be a Soviet spy. Most of the Secretaries-General were (and are) Socialist in political orientation, and none of them came from nations on the Security Council.

[Moorings]

Abandon nuclear weapons, China tells India

India to China: You first!

[spikeytx86]

India should be building more nukes, and south korea, Taiwan japan and Australian need to start building some as well. We need to play nice nice with India and turn them into a strong free market Ally. They will be an excellent check on expansionist china. And that is what the reds are afraid of!

[Golden Eagle]

Your proposal would require the creation of the NWO by significantly expanding the power of the UN, namely by the creation of a world police force, granting the UN sole power to enforce international law by any means necessary.

LOL, what? All I said that needs to be done is the non proliferation process be formalized and rules set forth, else it remain a worthless document as it is today. It's effectively obsolete and should be discarded or re-written immediately, else the U.S. lose all respectable right to refer to it again. Unless you don't mind looking as hyprocrytical as the Chinese did, that is.

[rzeznikj at stout]

And we all know there is no easy way to do it, based on the era and the parameters under which the originaly treaty was written.

My point is that to carry out the "formalized process" requires the creation of a body of enforcement by a world body (the UN), and the world body the authority to enforce. To give the UN such powers of enforcement is to establish the NWO with the UN as the world government.

That means the loss of U.S. sovereignty. Tell me, sir, that is not what you propose.

The US's loss of respectable right to refer to the current (and widely ignored) NPF is minor in the grand scheme of things compared with the prospect of risking national sovereignty.

[Golden Eagle]

Get real, it's effectively nothing more than a trade agreement, in the trade intensive world we live in. If the actual powers of the world can't get together over this, they can't get together over anything. But until they do, it's going to be anything goes with the most dangerous elements known to man.

[rzeznikj at stout]

The NPT is more than just a trade agreement. It was designed to prevent NATO and Soviet nuclear material from being shipped elsewhere to give one side a tactical or strategic advanatage. As I've said, it was a Cold War design that stopped applying at the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.

I'm not saying that we need to leave things as they are--they need to change. But with what you propose, the risks and harms handily outweigh any benefit that can be obtained. Especially with entrusting a corrupt UN to handle enforcement of the current, ignored, and outdated pact.

The best way clearly would be to just rewrite a new treaty, with the U.S. taking the lead on such an endeavor.

[Golden Eagle]

The best way clearly would be to just rewrite a new treaty, with the U.S. taking the lead on such an endeavor.

Obviously what I have been proposing all along, where were you?

[Just A Nobody]

There was a time when only democratic countries were allowed in the UN. Now it seems every Koranic kook and Commie dictator is not only a member,

Congressional Record--Appendix, pp. A34-A35
January 10, 1963
Current Communist Goals
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

[CarrotAndStick]

Some comments from an Indian forum:

http://www.expressindia.com/messages.php?newsid=63724#

• Abandon nuclear weapons ?


To ask India to abandon nuclear weapons is the most shameful comment by the Chinese Govt. official.
Before advising India, China should dismantle its own growing stockpile of nuclear weapons and set an example but this is like asking a tiger
to be a vegetarian !
Mr. China how about giving Tibet back
to Tibetans and then we will talk about
dismantling nuclear weapons !

Posted by: c.s.poredi, United States, 03-03-2006 at 1325 hours IST


• To hell with China


India should never give an ear to any words of China. It is the most unreliable country after Pakistan. It has done more harms to India than Pakistan. It is behind all the stretegic missiles of Pakistan. It has taken a huge land of ours in 1962 war.
In reply to China's advice India must declare to the world that we have same right of making Nuke weapons as those countries who have signed on NPT. If they are too concerns about nuke weapons, first they must dectroy their own nuke weapons before asking any body else to do so. In fact world-peace has more threat from China and USA than any other country even Pakistan and Iran.

Posted by: Vijay Kr Singhal, India, 03-03-2006 at 1152 hours IST


• Look who's talking


China should not talk such bullshit while they are busy arming all our neighbours (against us...) and supplying nuclear weapons to Pak.

It should abandon her own nukes before advising us to do so. No one gave them any special rights.

But overall I think the govt. should ignore their comment in order to show they give them no importance.







Posted by: A concerned citizen, Australia, 03-03-2006 at 0932 hours IST


• OneAlwaysHasToPay- CashORKind?


Now the "FAT Seems to Be Really In The FIRE! Let us "HOPE & PRAY" that the GIFT HORSE which Mr.G W BUSH (the Junior) has brought to us and on whichWe areMOREthan EAGER and in FACT RARING TO RIDE(!)does not turn with TIME, in to a "TROJAN HORSE" (!) ,otherwise we may end up "GETTING KICKED IN OUR 'YOU KNOW WHAT(!), instead of being able to "RIDE on IT! In such a situation we, may also end up with "ANOTHER not SO Wooden HORSE from across the HIMALAYA's which may feel "COMPELED and MOTIVATED Enough to Comedown on US "Like A TON of PLUTONIUM" apart from relishing some "KICKS" of its own, before the final DENOUMENT! By the way, one wonders as to " What really happened to the "TRIAD OF INFLUENCE" between RUSSIA, CHINA and Lastly but not Leastly(!) INDIA , which was the "Talk of (all) the Indian Foreign Policy Makers TOWN(s) only an year or so ago as the "WIN-WIN" strategy of Consolidating ASIA, as and for a "BULWARK" against the then "SOUL LESS, SOLE & RAMPAGING SUPER POWER OF THE WORLD" who has now ended up as our MOST INTIMATE LIFE PART-NER!Are any of those planners still around or they believe in DISCRE-TION BEING THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR and Decided to HIDE till BUSH is around!

Posted by: Shahabuddin Nadeem, India, 03-03-2006 at 0914 hours IST


• Satan quoting scriptures


Great. Look who is quoting the scripture?! The monster aggresor of our northern border, and who destroyed the Tibetan nation and culture is advising us to abandon nukes. Why can't this bamboo tiger do it first? Where are our comrades to advise their source of inspiration?

Posted by: kvjayan, India, 03-03-2006 at 0900 hours IST


• China's Reaction!


In the Fifties India got off to a rocky start in her relationship to the United States because of her principled stand in insisting that PRC was the legitimate occupant of the China seat in the Security Council, rather than Taiwan.

In subsequent years China deceived India over her intentions regarding the border issue. This despite India not actively opposing China's forced occupation, some might call it rape, of Tibet. Nehru's death was hastened by his shock and humiliation over the Chinese deception.

China has apparently passed on Nuclear Technology to Pakistan and North Korea, including help with bomb design to Pakistan.

China now has the effrontery to question the agreement between India and the US, which has the support of other nuclear powers and IAEA.

What gall!

Posted by: Dilip Adarkar, United States, 03-03-2006 at 0803 hours IST


• Abandon N.Weapons


Abandon N.Weapons and get nuked by Pakis and Chinkoos.

Posted by: Karunakaran Yendapal, India, 03-03-2006 at 0602 hours IST


• some cheek


Some cheek from this savage filth!

Posted by: Ravi Stalin, India, 03-03-2006 at 0308 hours IST


• WHY TO ABONDON?


Even if China abondons, India need not.
Because India is sorrounded by terrorist and fascist nations.

Posted by: REDDY, United States, 03-03-2006 at 0228 hours IST


• India should hit back


India must simply say, "Shut Up. Mind your own business." In fact it must take the war of words into their camp and talk about these fashionable words of convenience as practiced by Pakistan in Kashmir - "self-determination, human rights violations" in Taiwan and Tibet. Why India should be quiet beats me? How DARE China could even issue such a statement on India? I admire Chinese for their boldness while usually India displays lack of spine. China hits back even at USA.

By the way, I am sure our Communits now wont speak anything on this. If this statement were made by US, there would have been all the usual drama and rightly so. So why not now --- why are Communists so hypocritical? They oppose Bush's visit for no valid reason. They talk of Iraq and Afghanistan where atleast democracies have been installed and peolple voted parties which are of not US liking, but still US kept quiet. In China and Tibet people are killed if they oppose Communist govt, so why not Communists opposed China premier's visit? Well Communism is like a viral disease of mind sometimes whose leaders are more intereted for power than the welfare of country or its people.

Posted by: SS, United States, 03-03-2006 at 0223 hours IST


• China, set an example


China, why don't you set an example? We have teh right to defend ourselves. What if China attacks us. We may need to nuke Shanghai to defend ourselves. Plus, we are the only country with a no first use policy. I think India should remove that law.

Posted by: Amit Roy, India, 03-03-2006 at 0144 hours IST


• Dyabolical Mongols!



Mr Qin Gang(Oh,thse Chinese and Pak gangs!),
You,please,safeguard your coal mines,first.
You are diabolic( I hope you can understand English!),to have proliferated to Pak and bullied many Asian ntions,including India not long ago,with yuor nukes..
Our country has actually gone nuclear because of the perceived threats from you,cunning Chinese!
Take care of yourself and Pak first,beffore commenting and passing judgements on other countries.
Have you gone back to the old days when your Xinhua news agency used to embark on vitriolic attacks on the US?

Posted by: Kutty, India, 03-03-2006 at 0036 hours IST


• Tell that to pakistan


Indian should tell China that they should tell this to Pakistan & other countries.

Posted by: James, Australia, 03-03-2006 at 0016 hours IST


• commie alert!


How come the commies from india, the CPI, CPM and that Karat silent on this issue? Because they are chinese agents. They would love to sell india to china. For them only patriotism is anti-US and pro china. India doesn't come in calculation. Why don't they go and live in Beijing and preach Hu Jintao about how bad capitalism is?

Posted by: Amar, India, 02-03-2006 at 2227 hours IST


• Abandon nuke weapons: China to India


China should abandon its nuke weapons and start advising others or to put it differently "Mind your own business".

Posted by: Parthiban Krishnaswa, United States, 02-03-2006 at 2123 hours IST

[Schweinhund]

China is right insofar that this Non Proliferation Treaty has become a joke. It should be cancelled.

[Maceman]

China tested thermonuclear bombs in the sixties. Aside from threatening to turn Los Angeles into a sea of fire they have been acting like adults so far.

Yeah, but in the 60s they still didn't have an airplane to deliver it. China's ability to deliver long range nuclear missiles is much more recent. So they really had no choice except to act like adults. That's all changing now.

[fragrant abuse]

Great post, C&S.

Cool to hear Indians in their own words!

[Paul Ross]

Cool!

They sound pretty sensible to me!

Of course here, such sensible sentiments on our own behalf are derided as "U.S. xenophobia".