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China and India close nuclear deal

During a 4-day state visit to India, Chinese President Hu Jintao is close to agreeing on a civilian nuclear agreement that will enable cooperation between the two Asian powers. The deal if signed will allow the two countries to exchange and purchase nuclear technology from each other. The leader`s visit to India is accompanied by Chinese nuclear specialists who are currently meeting with their Indian counterparts. The details of the agreement have yet to be revealed but experts believe that they will be similar to the terms agreed upon in the Indo-American nuclear cooperation deal signed last year during Prime Minster Manmohan Singh`s visit to Washington.

If the Indo-Chinese nuclear cooperation agreement is signed this could mark a new stage in the competition for India`s friendship between the US and China. The main benefactor from such a competition is likely to be India that will acquire state of the art nuclear technology. Soon after elected in 2001, President Bush dubbed Chian a "statigic competitor". With India`s rapid military and economic growth its importance in the balance of power in Asia has become paramount and the US will not likely give up its influence to China.

India has been in intense nuclear development competition with its neighboring enemy Pakistan. In 1998 both countries held nuclear test. Both countries refused to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, thus denying world acceptance as nuclear powers. In efforts to draw India from the US, China has distanced itself from Pakistan. Indian officials say that a main reason for India`s warming ties with China is the fact that the nuclear agreement acknowledging de facto India as a nuclear power still has to be ratified by the US congress and still has a certain degree of uncertainty.