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Journalism of Courage
On the face of it, the agreement between Manmohan Singh and Hu Jintao to cooperate on civilian nuclear energy is a bold step forward. Given the complex nuclear history that has pitted India against China and Pakistan for so long, promoting atomic energy cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing has been a fool8217;s errand. Barring one single instance of Chinese supply of enriched uranium for Tarapur reactors in 1993, the nuclear relationship between India and China has been hostile. It was China8217;s first nuclear test in October 1964, barely a couple of years after the Sino-Indian border clash in 1962, that triggered India8217;s own atomic weapons programme. Beijing8217;s assistance to Pakistan8217;s nuclear weapons and missile programmes over the decades for ever altered the balance of power between New Delhi and Islamabad. The Sino-Pak nuclear nexus exposed India to unending terrorism and permanent nuclear blackmail from Pakistan.
This is why civilian nuclear cooperation between India and China marks a paradigm shift in bilateral relations. Nevertheless, we must hold our breath. For, China8217;s nuclear offer is conditional; the proposed cooperation should be consistent with Beijing8217;s international obligations. This caveat tells us that Beijing remains ambiguous on supporting the US-led initiative on changing international nuclear rules in favour of India. And India alone. Although three other nuclear weapon powers 8212; Russia, France and the UK 8212; have supported the US initiative, Beijing has so far expressed a number of reservations on the nuclear deal. It has often suggested that the change of rules should also apply to Pakistan, with whom China8217;s relationship is as close as 8216;lips and teeth8217;.
