U.S., China Agree To Expand Nuclear Security Ties

20 January 2011

GLOBAL SECURITY NEWSWIRE (WASHINGTON)--The United States (U.S.) and China agreed to open and operate a collaborative nuclear security center in China. The center will seek to spread best practices in regards to states' abilities to safeguard and account for nuclear materials. The U.S. agreed to supply trainers and machinery for the center, while China agreed to pay for most of the costs of operation. Officials said other Asian nations likely would be allowed to use the center. The center would be a joint effort between the U.S. National Nuclear Safety Administration (N.N.S.A.) and the China Atomic Energy Authority. Source: http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20110120_5230.php (Reliability: 45.3 -- Moderate)

Analysis:

It is highly unlikely that North Korea would be allowed to use the center even if it took steps toward denuclearization. Its ties to Iran are too strong to risk allowing North Korean nuclear experts into the center to see what kind of safeguards the U.S. and China have. (Analytic Confidence: Moderate)

President Hu Jintao of China and U.S. President Barack Obama met at the White House to discuss nuclear security. Image source: http://bit.ly/dU2w6N