Harris lands in Thailand for APEC, discusses nuclear energy project

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Nov 2022 17:32

The US Vice President announces an initiative to assist Thailand with an advanced nuclear project to promote clean energy.

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris lands in Thailand to attend the APEC summit.

The Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris stated that her country will assist Thailand in establishing a nuclear power program using advanced small modular reactors, as part of its Net Zero World Initiative to fight climate change.

The VP's statement came during a trip to the Southeast Asian country on Saturday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where she discussed the matter with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, in addition to the situation in Myanmar following the 2021 coup.

The initiative, which was launched during a climate summit that took place in Glasgow last year, will enable the US to cooperate with the private sector to engage in projects promoting clean energy.

According to the White House, the US will provide technical assistance to Thailand in order to help the country install small modular reactors, which are perceived as a safer choice due to their automatic shutdown feature during emergencies, which will probably address concerns by the country's public regarding nuclear energy following the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

The reactors deployed will have the "highest standards of safety, security and nonproliferation," the White House statement said, however, it did not include a timeline for the project.

The White House also announced that the US will launch an initiative with Thailand to improve the safety of the 5G network and start a project to build a cancer treatment center that, according to the statement, would be on a "world-class" level.

Technically, the US is more than willing to deprive any country it deems a rival of its right to nuclear energy and at the same time provide all means possible for a country it sees as an ally with nuclear reactors.

China, Russia, and Argentina are also in the process of developing small nuclear modular reactors.

Harris commented on the Myanmar issue saying that she "condemned the ongoing atrocities and human rights abuses by Burma's [official name of Myanmar until 1989] regime," the White House said.

"The vice president made clear that the United States stands with the people of Burma," it added.

Myanmar's military said Thursday it will release almost 6,000 prisoners including a former British ambassador, a Japanese journalist, and an Australian economics advisor who will be deported.

Former British envoy Vicky Bowman, Australian economics advisor Sean Turnell, and Japanese journalist Toru Kubota "will be released to mark National Day" and deported a senior officer told AFP, without specifying a date.

"Altogether, 5,774 prisoners including some 600 women prisoners will be released," the statement said.