Japan: Victim to Nuclear Atrocities

It is the first time that Japan agreed to such a deal with a country that is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Critics are of the opinion that by providing civil nuclear technology to India, Japan will promote an imbalance of power in the region.

by Ali Sukhanver- Nov 25, 2016

( November 25, 2016, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) A meeting of the NSG countries was arranged in Vienna on 11^th of this November. In this meeting China once again maintained its tough stand on the issue of new membership of the NSG and called for a two-step, non-discriminatory solution to admit non-NPT members into the 48-member elite grouping. Analysts on this issue are of the opinion that China’s stern stand on the issue is simply an effort to keep India out of the NSG as India has yet not signed the NPT. The role of China for maintaining a balance of power particularly in the South-Asian region has ever been very positive. China is doing all its best to crush the hegemonic designs of the stubborn countries like India. In other words China is playing the role of a moderator in the region. Some international forces might be afraid of China’s positive and balanced role in world politics but for those who desire to see the world a house of peace and prosperity; China is a ray of hope, trust and confidence. China’s effort of stopping India from becoming the member of NSG is the best example in this regard.

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. At present there are 48 member countries of the NSG. Pakistan and India are not among the list. With a very strong backing of the US, India has been striving hard to become the member of this group since long. It was first time in November 2010 when U.S. President Obama announced U.S. support for India’s participation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group during his state visit to India. Since then India and US are struggling hard to materialize the dream of making India the member of NSG but because of very strong opposition from the member countries, dreams are still the dreams. In the last week of June 2016 in Seoul, a meeting was held in which representatives of the 48-member NSG once again opposed India’s bid to become the 49th member. They cited the fact that New Delhi has yet to commit to the non-proliferation regime.

The Indian Express reported that among those who opposed Indian bid the main six countries were China, Brazil, Austria, New Zealand, Ireland and Turkey. As far as China is concerned, it has always maintained its stand that India’s bid will only be considered if rules for entry of non-NPT countries are finalized by the elite group. Mr.Lu Kang, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said talking to media, “Our position is subject to no change as of date.” According to various media reports, China’s harsh reaction came just a few days after India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, failed to reach a consensus on the issue. China has also made a case for Pakistan’s inclusion in the group if the NSG decides to grant an exception to India for its non-NPT status. As far as Pakistan is concerned, it fulfills all criteria for the NSG membership except for the NPT requirement, which India, too, does not meet. Pakistan wants simultaneous entry into the group with other non-NPT states that aspire to participate in the group. Pakistan is of the opinion that there must be no specific exemption or relaxation of rules for any country; all applications submitted by the non-NPT states for the membership of NSG must be measured up with the same yard-stick. A non-discriminatory approach towards the NSG expansion would not only ensure strategic stability in South Asia, but would also serve the cause of international non-proliferation efforts.

One thing more is very important that the rules and regulations for joining the NSG are devised for keeping this world safe from every type of nuclear terrorism. Special favours to India in this particular context would simply damage the international efforts against terrorism as India has ever been involved in all type of terrorist activities in the region. From the Indian Held Kashmir to Pakistan and from Sri Lanka to China, the stories of Indian involvement in terrorist activities are not hidden from anyone. By blessing India with the membership of NSG would be an injustice to all those who have been facing the brunt of Indian terrorism since long. Unfortunately in the second week of November, Japan signed a controversial deal with India to sell civil nuclear power equipment and technology to India.

It is the first time that Japan agreed to such a deal with a country that is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Critics are of the opinion that by providing civil nuclear technology to India, Japan will promote an imbalance of power in the region. Japan’s kindness would have been a true blessing for the region if Pakistan were also among the beneficiaries of this civil nuclear technology. Even in Japan, critics are raising concerns about a risk of their country’s technology being diverted to India’s nuclear weapons programme. The people of Japan had been the ever worst victim to the nuclear violence and they are not in favour of diverting this technology to an irresponsible country like India.

According to Aljazeera anti-nuclear groups in Japan have denounced the agreement, citing threats to safety and regional peace and increased risk of proliferation.  A senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Japan said in a statement, “There is no effective separation between India’s nuclear energy programme and its weapons programme, and the Japanese government’s agreement conditions are meaningless. Approving nuclear trade with India is a geo-strategic decision to support further nuclear weapons proliferation in Asia.”