Two of the world's nuclear taboos have been broken in the past month: China has struck a deal with Australia to buy uranium to fuel its mushrooming reactor programme and the US has signed a pact with India to share technology. While the agreements with the nuclear weapons nations are aimed at quenching a thirst for energy, some fear they have also made the world less safe.
Searching questions are being asked: Can China be trusted to use the uranium for its reactors and not divert some to make weapons? Could a proportion of the material make its way to the mainland's allies, Pakistan and North Korea? Does Washington's deal with New Delhi, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), send the wrong signal to Iran, seemingly doing its utmost to evade international safeguards in starting its own nuclear programme? With more uranium on the world market, will the risk of some falling into the hands of terrorists increase? Are rivalries between China and India being fuelled by the decisions?
Australia even seems to be blurring diplomatic boundaries. On the heels of Monday's signing of a safeguards agreement with China sealing its uranium pact, two Australian companies announced they had signed contracts to supply the ore to Taiwan. The Australian government does not have diplomatic relations with the island, but the deal will be made possible through an export arrangement with the US and went ahead with the knowledge of Chinese officials.
High oil and gas prices and concern that fossil fuels are causing climate change have in recent years prompted a rethink on nuclear energy. Renewable sources such as wind and solar power are not yet reliable means of producing around-the-clock electricity, whereas nuclear reactors have a proven track record. Asia's need to fuel its economic boom amid the new concerns has meant the region is leading the world with construction of reactors and China and India are in the forefront. China has just nine reactors at present, but plans to build up to 50 more within the next 20 years.
Australia is in a perfect position to capitalise: it is estimated to have between 30 and 40 per cent of the world's reserves of uranium, the fuel for nuclear reactors. With the price of the commodity increasing and expected to rise five-fold in the next decade, it was only a matter of time before traditional barriers fell.
With Premier Wen Jiabao at his side, Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Monday welcomed the mainland's economic expansion and outward development as good for the world. He said there was no merit in a 'policy of containment' towards China. 'We see it as in the interests of this country, the interests of our region and, indeed, the interests of the world to be an active partner in the long journey China has begun to undertake towards realising her full potential,' Mr Howard said.
