|
Post by HStorm on Apr 3, 2006 8:52:08 GMT
Australia has just agreed a massive deal to sell Uranium to the People's Republic of China.
Australia, which has among the highest concentrations of untapped uranium sources known to Man, refuses to export the element to countries that are not signed-up to non-proliferation treaties of nuclear arms - which it must be stressed China is committed to in principle - and one of the terms of this deal is that none of the imported stock is used in arms manufacture. The thing is, China has enormous reserves of its own.
It occurs to me that China can use the imported Australian stocks for its power stations, and then use the freed-up reserves of its own for weapons.
Nice move, John Howard...
|
|
|
Post by Naselus on Apr 3, 2006 12:57:36 GMT
Given that China's going to have to triple it's power industry in the next twenty years, I'd say that it's not going to be able to devote any uranium, Australian or native, to weapons manufacture any time soon. No point having Nuclear warheads if you can't power the silo doors.
|
|
|
Post by HStorm on Apr 3, 2006 16:02:34 GMT
I'm not so much grumbling about China here, as I doubt that they've got any plans for proliferation right now. The point I'm focusing on is how easily John Howard's Government has once again pushed aside one of its supposed fundamental principles, because, whether China builds fresh nuclear weapons or not, Howard has made it possible.
|
|
|
Post by modeski on Apr 20, 2006 4:06:07 GMT
There's been political fallout (pun intended) over here because of this deal. Indonesia in particular is up in arms (chortle) about Howard cosying up to China in this way. To respond Howard's government is toughening up illegal immigration and asylum laws, meaning that people who reach Australia's shores (chiefly Papua New Guineans) to seek asylum will be moved back offshore and assessed there.
Ironically enough, Australia also exports Uranium to Indonesia. Let the games begin!
|
|