China helping Iran, Iraq acquire weapons of mass destruction

China, which has supplied nuclear know-how and equipment to Pakistan, is now helping Iran and Iraq in their efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

China is the most active supplier of materials and technology to Iran's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes. It also tried to ship chemicals for missile fuel to Iraq, says the Washington Times, quoting a US naval intelligence report.

The paper says the report could complicate the White House's plans to export American nuclear technology to Beijing after certifying that China was complying with the US laws.

A 1985 amendment to the Arms Export Control Act states that no US nuclear technology can be sold to any nation that has assisted, encouraged, or induced any non-nuclear weapons state to engage in the building of nuclear arms.

However, no US president has been able to make such a determination against China.

Last year, the administration decided against imposing sanctions on China for selling ring magnets -- technology used in producing fuel for nuclear weapons -- to Pakistan.

UNI