Australia Signs Uranium Sales Agreement with China

China and Australia announced yesterday that they have agreed to a new deal for sales of Australian uranium to supply China’s growing nuclear power needs. “These agreements establish strict safeguards, arrangements and conditions to ensure Australian uranium supplied to China, and any collaborative programs in applications of nuclear technology, is used exclusively for peaceful purposes,” says Australia’s foreign minister.

Interestingly, Secretary of State Rice has made similar arguments on behalf of the U.S. nuclear deal with India. Apparently, she is facing severe opposition. Ironically, then, China may continue to get new and useful sources of uranium from U.S. allies, but India will not.