Reply #1: China to Buy 4 Westinghouse Nuclear Reactors

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China will buy four Westinghouse nuclear reactors in a deal that shows the continued attractiveness of American technology, but may also stir worries in Washington that the United States is selling its competitive advantage one industry at a time.

Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman of the United States and Ma Kai, the minister of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, signed a memorandum of understanding for the reactors in Beijing on Saturday. The deal calls for the state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation to buy the reactors from Westinghouse Electric, which the Toshiba Corporation, based in Tokyo, bought earlier this year.

Neither side announced a value for the reactors. But outside analysts have suggested the total price tag may be $5 billion to $8 billion.

Michael R. Wessel, a commissioner of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which was created by Congress to review bilateral relations, expressed concern on Sunday that based on the broad outlines of the deal, “it appears they are doing what other companies have done, which is to transfer the technology upfront.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/business/worldbusiness/17cnd-nuclear.html?hp&ex=1166418000&en=fac00e7b50ab0f69&ei=5094&partner=homepage