Uranium deal signed off with China
Today our PM John Howard and the visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao signed an agreement, which will pave the way for uranium sales to the emerging world superpower. But the visit by the premier, the first in 18 years, is not likely to be a one off – the uranium negotiations are part of a raft of talks, which will follow the deal. The topic? A free trade agreement with China. While the business community and those with mining interests have welcomed the deal, there remains disquiet over whether our yellow cake will make its way into nuclear weapons. Malcolm Cook, the Asia Pacific Program Director with Sydney-based think tank the Lowy Institute. He explains that Australia’s aim to have close economic ties with Japan, the United states and China may turn out to be quite a juggling act.