French claims over Japan's ITER 'pullout' infuriate Tokyo

The Japan Times ^ | May 7, 2005

[snowsislander]

Japan on Friday rejected claims by the French government that Tokyo has reached a deal with the European Union that could lead Japan to drop its bid to host an international nuclear fusion reactor.

Francois D'Aubert, deputy minister of research, said in a statement Thursday that a "technical agreement" on mapping out future cooperation on the project had been reached at a meeting the same day in Geneva.

But Toichi Sakata, director general of the Research and Development Bureau of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, said in Tokyo that there had been no decision on where the planned reactor would be sited.

"No decision has been reached on the construction site," Sakata told reporters.

He also said Tokyo was considering filing a diplomatic protest against France over the claims that Japan would abandon its bid to host the project.

The $13 billion experimental International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project is funded by a consortium comprised of Japan, the EU, United States, South Korea, Russia and China.

The six parties have been divided over where to locate the plant. Japan, the United States and South Korea want it in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture. Russia, China and the EU want it at Cadarache in southern France.

The Geneva meeting included European Commission Research Director General Achilleas Mitsos and Japanese negotiator Tesuhisa Shirakawa, the statement says, adding that confirmation of their deal was expected at a ministerial meeting in June.

The agreement "lays out the basis for a consensus on (choosing a site for) the ITER reactor within a very short time," the statement says.

"This balanced agreement could lead Japan to decide not to be the host country for the reactor," d'Aubert said. "If that is the case, France would welcome the ITER reactor in Cadarache. The end is in sight."

Sakata said in Tokyo that the French statement was "outrageous."

"We have never brought up proposals that suggested our intent to concede," Sakata said, emphasizing that Japan remains committed to its bid to host the reactor in Rokkasho.

The ITER plant aims to show that nuclear fusion presents a vast and safe source of energy that can wean the world off pollution-producing fossil fuels.

The talks in Geneva followed a Wednesday meeting in Paris between Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and his French counterpart Michel Barnier, where the two sides agreed to continue talks with the aim of reaching a rapid solution.

The Japan Times: May 7, 2005

[snowsislander]

ping

[snowsislander]

Another article, published today, on the same subject, but with a different take on it.

[CasearianDaoist]

We need to pull out of ITER and do smaller joint project with Japan. ITER looks to be developing into another boondangle on the scale of the ISS. The Euros are being incrediably arrogant about ITER.

[snowsislander]

We need to pull out of ITER and do smaller joint project with Japan.

That would be my preference also.

[elmer fudd]

I guess what bothers me about this is the fact that we are participating in it at all. Let the other five parties argue it out among themselves and we can build our own facility in the US. Doing joint nuclear research with the Chinese, French and Russians is insane.

[lafroste]

I actually see some good news here. The french continue to win friends and build brownie points, with India last week over the Airbus fiasco, and now they are impressing their new friends in Tokyo with their "we rule the world" attitude.

But, if you read between the lines, it's the US, Russia, China, the EU, etc. France is no longer even considered a world player, just a province of the EU (a smarmy, snot filled province at that). When the EU constitution crashes and burns, or if it doesn't, a short time further out, France will lose even the illusion of control of the EU and we'll be done with those pests strutting as world players, maybe forever.

It's a pity about Notre Dame however. It won't make a very good mosque.

[CasearianDaoist]

Absolutely.

[CasearianDaoist]

No really. They bullied everyone else in the EU off this project. ITER is about French prestige and building up French infrastructure, scientific institutions and talent. It was always billed and an "EU programme," but at its core the intent is for the benefit of France. Spain actually had a reasonable plan and local, and one more aligned with our and Japan's interests, but the French in effect pulled a bait and switch and the last moment.

We need to pull pull out of this Turkey now. I fear, however, that back room deals were cut with the Euros over ITER (the abandonment of the notion of lifting the China arms embargo?)

I not that the preparatory work on our side is going ahead full steam even though a site has not been fixed.

Too bad.

The Brit bring good people, but ITER will rely quite a bit on our money and our talent. It is another give away program against our national interests.

Why should we help the Euros become competitive?

Why should we be helping them when they are going ahead with projects like Galileo?

Before the 1990's this would have been a no brainer. It shows how we have fallen as a nation.

[CasearianDaoist]

No really = Not really.

[Return to the Public]

Hot fusion has failed to produce any excess energy but we keep funding it. It is a boondoggle. Cold Fusion on the other hand has refined itself into a repeatable demonstration and yet there is nobody willing to get off the hot fusion gravy train. So far all we see are status quo defenders poo pooing world wide evidence of cold fusions efficacy.

[river rat]

The French are really "cruising for a bruising"

We won't be able to avoid kicking their ass with "extreme prejudice", SOON!!!!..

Semper Fi

[Wiz]

Ping!