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Disarmament DiplomacyIssue No. 22, January 1998News reviewClinton Formally Approves US-China Nuclear AgreementOn 12 January, President Clinton signed the certification enabling the US-China Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation finally to come into affect. The decision to activate the Agreement, dormant since its signature in 1985, was taken by President Clinton after a summit meeting with China's President, Jiang Zemin, in Washington on 29 October (see Disarmament Diplomacy No. 20). Confirmation of the Agreement's certification came in a White House statement released on 15 January, noting the President's conviction that "China has met the nuclear non-proliferation requirements and conditions necessary under US law to engage in peaceful nuclear cooperation with US industry." The statement added: "This Agreement serves US national security and economic interests, and demonstrates that the Administration's policy of engaging China is achieving concrete results. We will continue to strengthen our cooperation on other arms control and nonproliferation issues." Report: 'Text - President certifies China under US-China nuclear agreement,' United States Information Service, 16 January. © 1998 The Acronym Institute. |