U.S. and China Collaborate on Nuclear Security

Today's top nuclear policy stories, with excerpts in bullet form.

Stories we're following today: Thursday January 20, 2011.

US, China Stepping Up Nuclear Security Cooperation - Desmond Buter in The Washington Post [link]

• President Barack Obama announced a deal Wednesday to step up cooperation with China on nuclear security. The agreement signed by U.S. and Chinese energy officials during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao would establish a jointly financed nuclear security center in China. The idea for the center was first proposed by Hu at Obama's nuclear security summit in April. U.S. officials see the agreement as an opening to expand security cooperation with China.
• The United States has spent billions on extensive cooperation on nuclear security with Russia and has often used the issue as a way to stimulate further political cooperation. But it has had very limited interaction with China on nuclear security.
• The U.S. considers China a vital player in attempts to contain North Korean aggression against South Korea and curb its development of nuclear weapons. The U.S. also needs Chinese support to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions, as China is a permanent U.N. Security Council member with veto power.
• Secretary of Energy Steven Chu called the agreement a major step forward in implementing nuclear security. The venture is aimed at training to improve security at nuclear facilities and accounting of nuclear materials. U.S. officials also hope to hold joint exercises on responding to nuclear disasters and terrorism and to share nuclear detection technology.
• U.S. officials also say the two countries plan to open up the center to other countries in Asia, hoping that China can use its influence to improve nuclear security in the region. Under the agreement signed by Chu and China Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Chen Quifa, China would pay for most of the center's budget, but the United States would provide technology and expertise.

Iran's Nuke Program - How Much Time for Diplomacy? - The Associated Press [link]

• The U.S. is joining five other world powers for talks with Iran this week publicly confident that international efforts have slowed Tehran's capacity to make nuclear arms and created more time to press Tehran to accept curbs on its atomic activities.  But while diplomats and officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency — the U.N. nuclear monitor — agree that Iran's enrichment program has struggled over past years, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) warns against complacency.
• In a study shared ahead of publication with The Associated Press the Washington-based FAS argues that Iran last year appears to have increased efficiency of the machines that produce enriched uranium by 60 percent, giving it the technical capacity to produce enough material for a simple nuclear warhead in 5 months.
• Olli Heinonen, who retired late last year as the IAEA deputy director general in charge of the agency's Iran file, described the likelihood of such a "breakout scenario" as a "suicidal mission" and noted that manufacturing nuclear warhead material is only one step in making a weapon.  At the same time, he said he cannot "dispute the correctness of the figures" in the study.
• With the two sides coming to the table at Istanbul for the Friday talks as far apart as they were at the end of their first round in Geneva last month, Ivanka Barzashka (the author of the study) says that efforts to bridge the divide between the two sides must be increased.  "The biggest issue with recent statements that Iran's nuclear drive has been slowed down is that we are getting a false sense of security that we have bought more time," Barzashka said in an e-mail. "That takes away from the urgency ... (of) a diplomatic breakthrough."

Senator Acted on Behalf of Country, Not Party - Dan Dziekonski in The Knoxville News Sentinel [link]

• I’d like to thank Sen. Lamar Alexander for supporting the New START treaty. Political gamesmanship made this treaty controversial for all of the wrong reasons. The senator rose above that and put the interests of the country first.
• This treaty was not rushed; it was delayed nine months by partisan opposition. The treaty was supported by every living Republican who served as secretary of state and by the joint chiefs, all service chiefs, the current and seven former commanders of Strategic Command.
• New START is a good treaty. Prior to retirement from the Marine Corps, I served as requirements officer for Theater Missile Defense. In that capacity I sat on the nuclear affects review for the Army’s Patriot System. With a background in physics and 22 years of military experience, I fully understand the issues of nuclear deterrence and missile defense. This treaty in no way compromises either. By allowing entry of American inspectors into Russian facilities we will be able to verify compliance. For a year we had no on-site inspections, and this left us exposed to cheating and uncertainty.
• Our senators receive classified briefs that cover the issues. Few detractors have access to classified material and this results in errors in their arguments. Based on these facts the senator acted in the interest of our safety.  This isn’t about a win for a political party or a president. Alexander has again shown his mettle in supporting our country. I applaud his support of the treaty.

Engaging China on Space - Gregory Kulacki for "All Things Nuclear" [link]

• As part of its attempt to start a dialog with China on strategic issues, the Obama administration believes it is important to engage China on space and space security issues. Despite signs of interest by Chinese officials, administration officials are frustrated by the mixed signals they are getting and the lack of progress.
• The growth in size and capability of China’s space sector in recent years has virtually eliminated its previous incentives for cooperation in space. China has less concern that it is falling behind, or that its national survival or international status is in danger.
• China no longer needs to import foreign technology and expertise. Moreover, many of the scientists and engineers in China’s space sector believe they make more rapid progress by pursuing a policy of self-reliance without the complications of joint programs. As a result, a significant number within China’s space community actively oppose increased international cooperation or is disinclined to support it.
• In addition, many in China’s space community resent U.S. policies, such as China’s exclusion from the International Space Station, export controls that have severely restricted China’s ability to participate in the international launch services market, and highly restrictive visa policies for Chinese space professionals.
• To be successful, U.S. efforts to engage China on cooperation in space need a specific task or project, somewhere to go together or something to do together. This project needs to be significant enough for the senior Chinese leadership to interrupt the trajectory of China’s current space agenda and direct China’s space planners to accommodate it. For that to happen China’s leaders will need to be confident the United States will carry through on the project.

New Agreement Sets Up Idaho to Become Nuclear Waste Site - The Associated Press in The Los Angeles Times [link]

• Former Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus said he's troubled by a new deal that would allow even small amounts of nuclear waste to be shipped to eastern Idaho. Andrus was instrumental in negotiating an agreement in 1995 with the federal government to limit nuclear waste shipments coming into the state for any reason.
• In a Jan. 11 letter obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Andrus raises questions with Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter about a new agreement that clears shipments of small amounts of waste to the Idaho National Laboratory for research. The new agreement essentially makes Idaho a final destination for nuclear waste, Andrus said. "The good news is the Department of Energy has found a place to store nuclear waste," Andrus said. "The bad news is it's between Idaho Falls and Arco."
• Andrus teamed with former Republican Idaho Gov. Phil Batt to forge the original agreement limiting nuclear waste shipments to Idaho, fearing radioactive and toxic Cold War garbage shipped to the 890-square-mile nuclear reservation from sites including the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant near Golden, Colo., would spread to the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and eventually the Snake River. Batt supports the new agreement made by Otter. "I think it's a good deal for Idaho and a good deal for the nation," Batt said. "We are a part of the United States and should be working together to achieve energy independence. This is not a partisan issue."
• Andrus said the old agreement allowed small amounts of nuclear waste for research into Idaho with a deadline for it to be removed. John Grossenbacher, Idaho National Laboratory director, said the procedure was expensive and made long-term research programs difficult to set up — problems eliminated with the new agreement. "The agreement gives us much more flexibility," said Grossenbacher. "We can do our job much more effectively."