CND's Press Round-Up - 26th March 2021
Posted: 26th March 2021
Dear all,
Please find today’s press round up below. A continued thanks to all for your help and support.
Nuclear Weapons
UK Warhead Increase- International Reaction
The New Zealand minister for disarmament and arms control has said the UK’s decision to increase its number of nuclear warheads is ‘very disappointing’, according to local press. Phil Twyford also said that New Zealand had made contact with Britain to express its view that the move undermined the Non-Proliferation Treaty. New Zealand has a long record of anti-nuclear work, having banned nuclear armed and powered ships from its territorial waters in the 1980s.
U.S. Nuclear Weapons Testing
The Associated Press carries a report on renewed attempts by U.S. federal legislators representing Arizona and New Mexico to expand the compensation programme for local resident who were exposed to radiation through nuclear weapons testing from the 1940s onwards. Around 40,000 people lived within a 50-miles radius of the testing site for the Manhattan Project. The indigenous people of the Navajo Nation were particularly badly affected, with many working in the uranium mines of the area and a 1979 spill of radioactive tailings and wastewater taking place on their land.
Iran Nuclear Deal
The website of the Atlantic Council features a blog today examining why the Iranian government is opposed to attempts to include Saudi Arabia and other Gulf powers in the process to re-start the JCPoA. As Saeid Jafari points out, ‘Incorporating members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in new talks would mean creating a new regional front and the likelihood that non-nuclear demands would be raised’. This follows on from recent Saudi activity which ensured U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil would not affect total world output and so prices.
Anti-War
Iran-China Relations
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that it will work to strengthen relations between China and Iran, and hopes to contribute to preserving the international nuclear deal with Iran in its 2015 form, according to Reuters. The Ministry spokesman also said that China had not received ‘notice of sanctions’ on oil from Iran. This comes after suspicions were raised in the international press that China was importing Iranian crude oil labelled as produce from countries like Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Drone Warfare
The new Biden administration is reportedly intending to maintain the Trump-era approach to drone sales and exports. Under Trump, the Missile Technology Control Regime, an international agreement dating back to before the end of the Cold War, was ‘reinterpreted’ to allow the sale and export of drones to countries involved in human rights violations. The objective of the change was to under U.S. market dominance in the face of Chinese competition. Democratic members of Congress are currently blocking the sale of four drones to Morocco. The full report can be found here.
China-UK Relations
China has imposed retaliatory sanctions on a number of British politicians and officials, including Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and Iain Duncan Smith, according to Al Jazeera. Four groups were targeted by the sanctions: the Uyghur Tribunal, the China Research Group of Tory MPs, Conservative Party Human Rights Commission (CPHRC), and Essex Court Chambers. This follows on from the joint sanctions imposed by Western powers on Chinese officials earlier this week.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power-European Union
The leaders of seven EU countries, including France and Poland, have written to the European Commission to argue that EU climate policies must provide substantial support for nuclear power as an allegedly ‘green’ power source. One of the key points of contention is whether European research funding should be available only for speculative new technologies or ‘near-term projects’ as well. The full report can be found here.
With best wishes,
Michael Muir
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament