Edition

Admitting Non-NPT Members: Questions for the NSG

IN THIS ISSUE: Admitting Non-NPT Members: Questions for the NSG, China Claims Support To Block India's Entry Into Nuclear Suppliers Group, What the Pentagon Thinks of China’s Military, Iran Doubles Crude Exports Following Nuclear Deal: Minister, China Nuclear Company Will Not Build Hinkley Alone If EDF Drops Out, India, Bangladesh Power Ties With 21st-Century Nuclear Deal

Published on May 17, 2016

Admitting Non-NPT Members: Questions for the NSG

Mark Hibbs | Arms Control Wonk

The Nuclear Suppliers Group in coming weeks may consider an application for membership from India, and perhaps also from Pakistan. Both states possess nuclear weapons and are outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Hence, they are states whose nuclear weapon activities the NSG has actively sought to inhibit.

China Claims Support To Block India's Entry Into Nuclear Suppliers Group

NDTV

Defending its move to block India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, China on Friday claimed that several members of the 48-nation bloc shared its view that signing of the NPT was an "important" standard for the NSG's expansion. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing that not only China but also a lot of other NSG members are of the view that Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the cornerstone for safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

What the Pentagon Thinks of China’s Military

Ankit Panda | Diplomat

On Friday, the United States Department of Defense released its annual report to Congress on “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.” The 156-page document provides a helpful summary of the trends the U.S. military has observed in China and expands on observations made last year (see my discussion of last year’s report here).

Iran Doubles Crude Exports Following Nuclear Deal: Minister

Xinhua News

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the country's crude production and exports have almost doubled compared to the levels seen during the sanctions period, local media reported on Monday. "Thanks to JCPOA , production and export of crude oil and its byproducts have risen two-fold compared to the sanctions period," Zanganeh was quoted as saying by Iran's Financial Tribune daily, using the acronym of Iran's nuclear agreement with six world powers.

China Nuclear Company Will Not Build Hinkley Alone If EDF Drops Out 

Terry Macalister | Guardian

The Chinese company helping EDF with plans to build new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset has flatly dismissed the idea it would go it alone if the largely state-owned French company dropped out. “As a partner to EDF supporting the Hinkley Point project, CGN [China General Nuclear Power Corporation] has no independent plans to build reactors at Hinkley Point C,” it said in a statement.

India, Bangladesh Power Ties With 21st-Century Nuclear Deal

Indrani Bagchi | Times of India

India has concluded a nuclear agreement with Bangladesh in a sign that the bilateral neighbourhood relationship is becoming special. The core of the new engagement is all 21st century—energy, connectivity, security. India has concluded a nuclear agreement with Bangladesh in a sign that the bilateral neighbourhood relationship is becoming special. The core of the new engagement is all 21st century—energy, connectivity, security.

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