GS PAPER-2

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

China-Pakistan Nuclear Deal: Threat to INDIA

CHINA is aiding Pakistan in setting up its new nuclear power plants in Punjab. But there are some concerns that are bothering other global powers about this deal. Some of which ae as follows:

  1. What are the Pakistan government’s reasons for going ahead with a nuclear power plant with Chinese help?
  2. Why has Beijing not sought waivers from the Nuclear Suppliers Group?
  3. How will it impact the governance of nuclear commerce?

Before addressing these questions, let us first get into the basics of the news

  • Pakistan is currently operating six nuclear plants out of which 4 are in Chashma and 2 in Karachi, all built by the support from Beijing, with a capacity to generate about 300 to around 1100 MW.
  • The recent one with be the 5th one at Chashma, hence called C-5 project.
  • This plant will have Hualong One reactor which is also planted in the Karachi unites as well.

Now the points that raises brows is that why all these power plants have been aided by only China? Why Pak can’t rely upon other nations for the same? The reason is, Pakistan doesn’t fulfil the criteria to be qualified for setting up a nuclear power station.

Who sets up these rules??

Its NSG i.e. Nuclear Suppliers Group. This body governs the Nuclear Export Regime by setting up guidelines for the transfer and collaboration of the nuclear power, which if not monitored or restricted with stringent instructions, can lead to international massacre. The repercussions then, will be lugged by the upcoming generations which wouldn’t mind the borders but would spread across. This problem is being resolved by NSG. Overall, a total of 48 countries are its participants, and INDIA and Pakistan are not among them.

But why is that so….

Because the NPT defines nuclear weapons states as those that tested devices before 1967, and India tested for the first time in 1974 in Pokhran. This was one of the strategies planned by the then superpowers to weaken India’s status in becoming a competent party among the greatest nations of those times. Hence, the clause of NPT, didn’t allow India to become a nuclear-weapon state.

So, 5 states are recognized by NPT as nuclear weapon states (NWS): China (signed 1992), France (1992), the Soviet Union (1968; obligations and rights now assumed by the Russian Federation), the United Kingdom (1968), and the United States (1968)

Coming to the NPT rules. What are they?

Basically, NPT has 3 elements:

  1. Peaceful use,
  2. Disarmament,
  3. Non-proliferation of nuclear power

Which summarizes to ‘Not using NUCLEAR POWER for attack’.

Although we are not NSG members, we are waived by the organization to set up Nuclear power plant, because with the advocation of UNITED STATES, we were able to pledge in accordance with the NPT rules.

Now the question arises, that how can PAKISTAN, a state with financial crisis, not a member of NSG, and not pledging with the NPT rules is being constantly backed by CHINA, to set up nuclear reactor, where china is against INDIA to be included in NSG?

  • It is because of our evident frictions with both the nations. Arming Pakistan with nuclear weapons would help China, weakening us and eventually preach into our borders.

The entire globe is pondering over China’s actions towards other nations, and indeed there needs to a firmer organization that would standardize the policies for setting up a nuclear reactor in any state.

What demotivates aspirants is the idea that at least 4-5 attempts are a must to qualify UPSC CSE EXAMS. This is absolutely incorrect. It’s true that this exam demands time to prepare but that’s not more than 2 to 3 years. It’s a learning process where you will make multiple mistakes and so, would need time to rectify them too. Most aspirants do not realise this fact and waste their attempts with inadequate preparation, which in turn, demotivates them. So, you need a mentor to guide you in this journey and tell you WHEN TO START and HOW TO START your preparation. Also before knowing what to study an aspirant has to first know WHAT NOT TO STUDY in this era of overflooded information around us. This is where the role of a Mentor becomes all the more important so that you do not waste your crucial time reading unnecessary content.
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Many Institutes recommend starting UPSC preparation from 6th standard NCERT books and go through graduation level textbooks, which is not true. Also, the aspirant is prescribed to go through the entire newspaper every day. Reading so much of hefty content on a daily basis is a tedious and boring job to do. Such misconceptions only waste the aspirant’s valuable time and money. Each individual is different and accordingly he/she should be suggested where to start from. Coming to current affairs, news reading and its analysis is a skill that needs to be taught in the beginning, and with time the aspirant can himself decide what to read and how to read. Analysing and jotting down the essentials becomes easy for the student after a few months.
Another myth that students fear is that ‘UPSC IS DIFFICULT AND ONLY IIT OR TOP COLLEGE GRADUATES CAN CRACK IT ’. UPSC is open for graduates from every stream and doesn’t prefer anyone based on his/her background. So if you are willing to dedicate your time in this preparation, you can surely succeed in this exam with a good rank.