China, U.S. to Build Nuclear Security Center

The facility would offer training on boosting safeguards at nuclear installations and keeping track of atomic matter. Obama administration representatives would also like to conduct bilateral drills on dealing with atomic incidents and terrorist attacks and to exchange nuclear monitoring technology. Obama officials said China and the United States intend to allow other Asian nations to use the security center.
The deal would call for Beijing to bear the majority of the facility's expense while the United States would supply the know-how and equipment.
The Obama administration views the deal -- to be signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and China Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Chen Quifa -- as a means to increase security collaboration with China, which is expanding its own civilian atomic sector.
Washington has allocated billions of dollars for nuclear security work with Russia, employing that cooperation as a jumping off point for additional political collaboration. The United States, though, has had few nuclear security dealings with China. The Obama administration views Beijing as an essential participant in efforts to curb suspect nuclear operations in Iran and North Korea (Desmond Butler, Associated Press/Washington Post, Jan. 19).

Wednesday, January 19, 2011