Nuclear Suppliers Group

Why is in news? Does China-Pak. N-deal flout global rules?

On June 20, China and Pakistan signed an agreement for a 1,200 MW nuclear power plant in the Chashma nuclear complex in Pakistan.

The deal, reported to be worth $4.8 billion, comes amid Pakistan facing a dual energy and economic crisis.

The latest nuclear deal between China and Pakistan has implications not only for the crisis-hit country but also for the global governance of nuclear commerce, with Beijing proceeding with the recent deal without seeking necessary waivers from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Nuclear Suppliers Group:

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multilateral export control regime and a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.

The NSG was founded in response to India’s nuclear test in May 1974 (Smiling Buddha).

The NSG first met in November 1975 in London, and is thus popularly referred to as the “London Club”.

The test demonstrated that certain non-weapons specific nuclear technology could be readily turned to weapons development.

Nations already signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) saw the need to further limit the export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology.

It is not a formal organization, and its guidelines are not binding. Decisions, including membership, are made by consensus.

Membership till now is to 48 supplier states.

Objective:

It aims to ensure that nuclear trade for peaceful purposes does not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, while not hindering international trade and cooperation in the nuclear field.

It facilitates the development of peaceful nuclear trade by providing the means whereby obligations to facilitate peaceful nuclear cooperation can be implemented in a manner consistent with international nuclear non-proliferation norms.

Benefits associated with NSG membership - Once admitted, an NSG member state gets:

Timely information on nuclear matters.

Contributes by way of information.

Has confirmed credentials.

Can act as an instrument of harmonization and coordination.

Is part of a very transparent process.

Opposition of NSG membership bid:

India is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

India’s nuclear program has been a contentious issue for the NSG since its formation.

India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, which led to the formation of the NSG.

In 2008, the NSG exempted India, allowing it to engage in nuclear commerce with NSG members despite not being a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

India’s exemption was granted based on its commitment to non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

China, one of the five nuclear-weapon states, stridently opposes India’s NSG bid primarily on the grounds that New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Its opposition has made India’s entry into the group difficult as the NSG works on the principle of consensus.

India argues that its track record of responsible nuclear behavior and its commitment to non-proliferation make it eligible for NSG membership.

India’s nuclear doctrine:

No First Use - India will only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack on Indian territory, or Indian forces. A caveat is made about their possible use in response to a chemical or biological attack.

Massive Retaliation - India’s response to a first strike will be massive, causing ‘unacceptable damage’. While the doctrine doesn’t explicitly espouse a counter-value strategy (civilian targets), the wording implies the same.

Credible Minimum Deterrence - The number and capabilities of India’s nuclear weapons and delivery systems should merely be sufficient to ensure intolerable retaliation, also keeping in mind first-strike survival of its relatively meagre arsenal.

The right to take nuclear action against the enemy will only be taken by the elected representatives of the people, i.e. the political leadership of the country, although the cooperation of the Nuclear Command Authority will be necessary. In other words; the bureaucracy of India is not authorised to take the decision of the nuclear attack on the enemy.

Nuclear weapons will not be used against non-nuclear states. It means India believes in the theory of "Tit for tat."

India will continue to support the global initiative to create a nuclear-free world and will push forward the idea of discrimination-free nuclear disarmament.

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons:

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

Between 1965 and 1968, the treaty was negotiated by the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament, a United Nations-sponsored organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Opened for signature in 1968, the treaty entered into force in 1970.

More countries are parties to the NPT than any other arms limitation and disarmament agreement, a testament to the treaty’s significance

Four UN member states have never accepted the NPT, three of which possess or are thought to possess nuclear weapons: India, Israel, and Pakistan. In addition, South Sudan, founded in 2011, has not joined.

Three pillars of the treaty includes Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy