WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the founder and co-chairman of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, today released a letter in which the Department of State unambiguously confirmed that providing any new nuclear reactors by China to Pakistan is not allowed by the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), which governs international nuclear trade. Rep. Markey sent a list of detailed questions regarding the possibility of a China-Pakistan nuclear deal to the Department of State on October 23, 2008.

Rep. Markey said, "There is no doubt whatsoever that international nonproliferation rules bar China from providing Pakistan with new nuclear reactors.  This is clear from a plain-language reading of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group Guidelines, and I am very pleased that the Bush Administration has agreed with this view."

In his October 23^rd letter to Secretary of State Rice, Rep. Markey pointed out that "the provision of new nuclear reactors to Pakistan would violate NSG guidelines."  In its response, the Department of State agreed, writing that the proposed nuclear deal between China and Pakistan would "require consensus approval by the NSG for an exception to the Guidelines."

The NSG is meeting today in Vienna, Austria to discuss new rules regarding uranium enrichment facilities.  The possibility of a China-Pakistan nuclear deal will likely also be a subject of discussion.

Rep. Markey concluded, "China should not violate its international obligations by selling new nuclear reactors to Pakistan.  The United States has clearly stated that such a sale would be against international nonproliferation rules, and I hope other countries stand up to deliver the same message. Pakistan is responsible for more nuclear proliferation than any other single country; nuclear cooperation is off the table." 

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Copies of both letters are available here: http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_issues&task=view_issue_docs&issue=10&Itemid=152