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U.S. Department of Energy Fact Sheet
U.S.-China Agreement of Intent on Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology
October 1997
The U.S. Department of Energy and the State Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China have entered into an Agreement of Intent on Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology that will further cooperative activities related to nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation.
In 1985, the United States and the People's Republic of China signed an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. In approving the Agreement for Cooperation, Congress required that before implementation, the President would have to make certain certifications and a report to Congress on China's nonproliferation policies and practices. In 1990, following the Tiananmen Square incident in China, legislation was passed requiring additional Presidential certifications related to non-proliferation and human rights. These sanctions also precluded the Department of Energy from authorizing the export of nuclear technology and services to China, any Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed exports to China and any Department of Commerce-licensed dual-use exports to nuclear end users or end uses in China.
Over the past 10 years, the United States has been working with China to address the concerns outlined in the Congressionally-mandated certifications. Issues at the top of the U.S.-agenda included China's need to terminate assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, curtail cooperation with Iran's nuclear program, establish an effective nuclear export control system (including dual-use items) and join multilateral nonproliferation and export control efforts. Based on progress in these areas, the President has announced his intention to send the required certifications to Congress for implementation of the 1985 Agreement for Cooperation. The certifications must lie before Congress for 30 days of continuous session before taking effect.
Unless Congress acts to the contrary, the President's certifications and implementation of the 1985 Agreement for Cooperation will enable the U.S. nuclear industry to resume peaceful nuclear commerce with China. In addition, the Department of Energy will be able to allow U.S. nuclear vendors to release advanced light water reactor technology to China. This will be a significant milestone in cooperation and will provide China access to the world's safest and most advanced nuclear power reactors.
The U.S. Government, like U.S. nuclear industry, recognizes that for the foreseeable future Asia will be the largest market for nuclear power. Among the states of Asia, China has by far the largest announced plans for nuclear power development. By the Department of Energy's most conservative estimates, China will by itself account for one-third of the world's nuclear power growth over the next twenty years. Individual exports will be subject to case-by-case license review and approval by the U.S. Governpment.
China's declared commitment to nuclear nonproliferation has permitted enhanced cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Agreement of Intent between the Department of Energy and China's State Planning Commission paves the way for increased cooperation that will help to strengthen the international nuclear nonproliferation regime through better coordination of unilateral, bilateral and multilateral nuclear nonproliferation efforts.
Highlights of the Proposed Nuclear Cooperation
Potential cooperation under the Agreement of Intent may include the exchange of technical information, personnel, samples, materials, instruments and equipment; training; use of the other country's facilities; and participation in seminars, studies, and research and development projects.
Nuclear Technologies
The Agreement of Intent sets the stage for government-to-government cooperation in current and advanced light water reactor technologies and reactor and power plant safety, in-service inspection, fuel treatment and storage, decontamination and decommissioning, irradiation technology, and production of isotopes for medical, industrial and agricultural purposes. Cooperation in these areas will benefit both countries as we seek to address our energy needs for the next century.
Nonproliferation Technologies
The U.S. expects to cooperate with China in promotion of a stable, world-wide nuclear nonproliferation regime. To support this objective, the agreement calls for the development and implementation of systems for export control of nuclear materials, equipment and technologies; nuclear materials control and accounting; physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities; and technology development for enhancement of international nuclear safeguards.
Next Steps
The Agreement of Intent between the Department of Energy and the China State Planning Commission will be followed by the negotiation of a broad "umbrella" agreement that will govern future cooperative activities related to nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation. The umbrella agreement will include the conditions and obligations under which cooperation will be pursued and the legal considerations required to protect the rights and interests of both parties.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
