China talks up nuclear ties with India

SINGAPORE: In what is seen as a major breakthrough, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has made a dramatic offer of nuclear commerce with India. This has far-reaching implications as it indicates China’s willingness to side with India at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to help operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal.

The deal needs the approval of the 45-nation NSG, which controls global nuclear trade. The Chinese premier’s interest could also be seen as a precursor to his country’s cooperation in India’s overall approach to civil nuclear cooperation with the international community.

Mr Wen’s offer came in a closed-door bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to discuss future cooperation on many issues, including energy and climate change, between the two countries.

China’s move also assumes significance as so far only Russia had openly shown eagerness to do civil nuclear business with India ahead of the Indo-US deal getting finalised. Incidentally, Russia is keen to sign an agreement to sell civil nuclear reactors to New Delhi.

Mr Singh had said on Tuesday that after the Indo-US nuclear deal goes through the last-mile formalities, India would approach Russia for more civil reactors. Also, the Chinese interest has, according to some officials, the potential to influence the Left’s perception of the Indo-US deal.

A major plank of the Left’s objection is the perceived US-centric nature of the deal. Once it becomes clear that more nations such as Russia and China are also part of the framework of nuclear cooperation, the Left’s objection could get blunted.

It appears that the Chinese, driven by pure business considerations, do not want to be left behind in sealing some good civil nuclear deals with India, just as Russia. It is perhaps in this context that Mr Wen hinted to Mr Singh that he would want to do civil nuclear commerce with India.