China accuses US of nuclear double standards

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/739279.cms

NEW DELHI: China on Thursday made its opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal known saying it smacked of “double standards in the efforts to rein in nuclear proliferation”. While it has brought to the fore the uneasy Indo-Sino equations — something ‘Chindia’ enthusiasts have been glossing over in the recent months — indications are that there would be some tough negotiations ahead at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

“While many blame the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran for frustrating international efforts on nuclear non-proliferation, the double standards adopted by some Western countries on nuclear issues could also be said to add to the problem, for their stance has undermined the authority of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

While these two states drew much flak on nuclear non-proliferation, the nuclear doublespeak by Western countries has added to the concern of the international community over the spread of weapons of mass destruction. snip

The Chinese agency said the nuclear agreement would torpedo non-proliferation efforts. “The double standards are manifested in another case — India, a country which has detonated nuclear bombs, but refused to sign the NPT,” the 2006 Xinhua year-ender on non-proliferation noted.

It pointed out that US President George W Bush agreed in March 2006 on a civil nuclear cooperation deal under which New Delhi is allowed to buy foreign nuclear technology for the first time in 30 years.