In nuclear security, China has most at stake

• Source: Global Times
• [03:50 April 14 2010]
• Comments

World attention was brought to the grim picture of nuclear terrorism when the Nuclear Security Summit opened Monday in Washington under a maximum degree of security.

Besides the threat presented by nuclear-armed countries, a sad legacy of the Cold War, nuclear weapons are held by some politically unstable countries. Further danger is presented by terrorists and non-state actors who are trying every means to get hold of nuclear materials.

Risks associated with that threat are running high with the wider application of nuclear energy in civil and military facilities. Even radioactive medical materials can be used to make a dirty bomb.

The grimness of the situation was evidenced by the arrest of a Somali- American terrorism suspect last month in Yemen who had worked for US nuclear power plants for six years. The case shows terrorists have been making well-planned systematic efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.

China is not immune from such threats. According to the IAEA, there were over 1,500 confirmed incidents worldwide of nuclear material or other radioactive material being lost, stolen or otherwise illegally taken from 1993 to 2008.

The former Soviet Union bloc countries, where the US's nuclear arsenals were deployed, are having more difficulty in preventing nuclear materials and related technologies from being transferred illegally to terrorist organizations.

China also borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, both dens of terrorism with worsening security situations.

The evil genie has long since escaped the bottle. Current legal and diplomatic structures have proved insufficient to contain the spread of nuclear weapons. Nuclear terrorism is a worldwide threat and a unanimous agreement for better securing nuclear material is necessary.

China has deployed strict management of its nuclear sites, leaving little likelihood that terrorists could get their hands on the country's nuclear materials. But preventing an attack on its nuclear facilities and keeping terrorists from carrying nuclear material over its borders are still difficult tasks.

China should take more initiative in cooperating with neighboring countries to improve nuclear security throughout the region, including sharing its experience and methods of safeguarding nuclear sites.

Actions for securing nuclear material have to be taken now.