Buying Defective Russian Nuclear Technology Will ‘Kill Us All,’ Chinese Commentator Warns

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 19 –A Chinese commentator has warned that importing what he describes as low quality Russian nuclear technology will “kill the Chinese people.” Somewhat remarkably Moscow has chosen to translate this especially because it is part of a far larger pattern in which China wants Russia’s raw materials but has no interest in purchasing its manufactured goods.

            Earlier this month, Mao Chao, a Chinese commentator, says that a Russian offer to sell Beijing nuclear power technology must be rejected because it is so defective that it is likely to break down, cause an accident, and kill any Chinese living near such plants (mp.weixin.qq.com/s/1c7qqCPhPvjVZ5ZZNOlxnQ).

            That article has now been translated by the Russian Inosmi service and is currently available at inosmi.ru/military/20180618/242487820.html.  If it is taken down, as its content suggests may be a real possibility, a copy of it has been posted as well at justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251679511).

            The Chinese commentator not only talks a great deal about the Chernobyl accident but argues that Russia has made little progress since 1986 in improving safety and reliability. “If in the USSR at that time had been working Western specialists,” he says, “the Chernobyl accident might not have occurred at all and would at least have been more rapidly controlled.”

            “Although the Russians are able to build atomic power plants, their technological level is insufficiently advanced. All Russian enterprises included in the 500 best,” Mao says, “are oil or finance companies.  Not one of them is an industrial producer.” That says it all, the Chinese writer continues.

            “The technological level of Russian industry is very low, and its products are distinguished by their low quality.” That is true in the defense industry from tanks to aircraft to aircraft carriers, the commentator says. None of those things is world class as recent events have shown.

            He adds: “In view of the low quality of Russian production, countries wishing to purchase it ought to think twice, especially if one is talking about equipment for atomic power stations.”  There, the use of Russian products “could put at risk the lives and security of the people.”

            Wouldn’t it be a better idea not to buy from Russia, the Chinese author says, and instead choose to purchase equipment from countries whose industrial producers operate at a more advanced level and can guarantee greater reliability and safety? Indeed, he says, “China has already brought Russia enough profit.”

            And then Mao concludes that “such a narrow-minded individual as Putin who is capable only of secret furthers can survive by selling oil to China. That’s enough: we must show Russia that we will not allow Russia technology to kill our people.”

            A new study by the Russian Academy of Economics and State Service concludes that “China has been refusing to purchase goods in Russia” other than raw materials, thus suggesting that Mao’s comments are far from an isolated view in China and that Moscow is going to have a hard time selling more there (finanz.ru/novosti/aktsii/kitay-otkazalsya-pokupat-v-rossii-nesyrevye-tovary-1027170183).