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In November 2000, China committed not to assist, in any way, any country in the development of ballistic missiles that could be used to deliver nuclear weapons, and to enact at an early date a comprehensive missile-related export control system.

During the reporting period, Chinese entities provided Pakistan with missile-related technical assistance. Pakistan has been moving toward domestic serial production of solid-propellant SRBMs with Chinese help. Pakistan also needs continued Chinese assistance to support development of the two-stage Shaheen-II MRBM. In addition, firms in China have provided dual-use missile-related items, raw materials, and/or assistance to several other countries of proliferation concern—such as Iran, North Korea, and Libya.

In the nuclear area, China has made bilateral pledges to the United States that go beyond its 1992 NPT commitment not to assist any country in the acquisition or development of nuclear weapons. For example, in May 1996 Beijing pledged that it would not provide assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear facilities.

With respect to Pakistan, Chinese entities in the past provided extensive support to unsafeguarded as well as safeguarded nuclear facilities, which enhanced substantially Pakistan’s nuclear weapons capability. We cannot rule out some continued contacts between Chinese entities and entities associated with Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program subsequent to Beijing’s 1996 pledge and during this reporting period.

If this nuke information is true or largely true, the Saudis may have put their islamic butt in a vise. No small, special interest nation is going to get away with using a few nukes without being utterly and totally destroyed in the retaliatiatory action. Their capacity for counter-retaliation will be slight or nil. Their money in the bank will be reparations. The Holy Places would be spared as much as possible from physical damage, out of respect for international law and sensitivities, but because of the radioactive waste round about, visits there would be made at great peril, and it might be a generation or two before the visit a mohammedan should make there in his lifetime could be made safely. Nobody ever accused them of being smart; rich? yes; shrewd? often? Smart? I don't think so.