Author: PTI
Publication: The Hindustan
Times
Date: September 6, 2000
DESPITE CHINA'S persistent
denial that it did not encourage nuclear proliferation, a recent study
by a US think-tank has indicated that Beijing has been a constant supplier
of a variety of nuclear products and services to Pakistan, ranging from
uranium enrichment technology to research and power reactors.
The study published by
the Centre for Non-Proliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International
Studies has come up with fresh details about how China helped Pakistan
become a significant nuclear and missile power in South Asia. US intelligence
agencies said the study had reported, as early as 1983, that Beijing had
by then transferred a complete nuclear weapon design to Islamabad, along
with enough weapons-grade uranium for two nuclear weapons.
In 1986, China concluded
a comprehensive nuclear cooperation agreement with Pakistan and in the
same year, they begun assisting Islamabad with the enrichment of weapons-grade
uranium. China also reportedly transferred enough tritium gas to Pakistan
for 10 nuclear weapons. In 1989, China allegedly involved Pakistani scientists
in a nuclear test at its Lopnur test site. In 1994-95 5,000 China sold
ring magnets to a Q. Khan research lab at Kahuta which were used in gas
centrifuges to make weapons grade enriched uranium. The destination of
the magnets, the research lab, is not subject to International Atomic Energy
safeguards and is believed to be involved with Pakistan's nuclear weapons
programme.
China has also routinely
supplied Pakistan heavy water (D20) which was needed, both for safeguarding
Kanupp facility as well as for operating some reactors like the Khushab
facility, to be used for producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. Beijing
also sold a special industrial furnace for the Khushab facility in 1996
and Chinese scientists were reportedly in Pakistan to help install the
furnace, the study said, adding the furnace can be used to melt uranium
into the shape of a nuclear bomb core besides having civilian applications.
In 1983, China supplied
Pakistan the complete design of a nuclear weapon-a 25 kiloton nuclear bomb,
possibly a Chic-4. China reportedly reached a deal with Pakistan to supply
heavy water to the Kanupp facility but the deal was delayed due to concerns
that it might be diverted to the nearby unmanned facility. For the Chashma
pressurized water reactor (300 mw), under International Atomic Energy Association
(IAEA) safeguards, China supplied auxiliary equipment, including heaters,
condensers, and water tanks in 1996. China also exported a power plant
computer system in 1997 but discussions for Chinese sale of a second facility
for the Chashma site were delayed over financing arrangements (1995-96).
The Parr-3 research reactor
(27 kw) at Rawalpindi, under IAEA safeguards, was built and designed with
Chinese assistance in 1989, the study said. The study also gives details
of Chinese exports of missiles, components and related technologies to
Pakistan. China provided ballistic missiles and launchers, up to 30 M-11/DF-11
missiles to Pakistan's Sargodha air force base near Lahore in 1992 and
M-11 transporter-erector-launchers in 1991. It exported cruise missiles
Hy-1, Hy-2, FL-1 and FL-2 and helped develop Pakistan's indigenous ballistic
missiles Hatf-1, Hatf-2 (similar to M-11), Hatf-3 (similar to M-9) or Pakistani
designation for M-11), follow-on to Hatf-3 (Hatf-M) and Anza surface-to-air
missile.