India was also encouraged to flex its nuclear muscles by the Clinton Administration's abject response to North Korea's nuclear program. After learning North Korea had nuclear weapons, and was developing missiles to deliver them, Washington sought to buy off Pyongyang by bribing it with offers of oil, food, and less threatening light-water reactors. The credulous US even supplied India with super-computers that greatly aided its nuclear program. Washington only seems serious about denying nuclear weapons to the Arabs and Iran. China will react to India's challenge by beefing up its nuclear arsenal, forcing Japan and Taiwan to consider reactivating their dormant nuclear programs.
Japan can produce nuclear weapons in three months.
Arab nations and Iran are also clamoring for nuclear capability. Washington's double standard of blocking Islamic nation's nuclear programs, while winking at those of India, North Korea, and Israel, fatally undermined the cause of nuclear non-proliferation. This dangerous mess need not have occurred. Timely warning by US intelligence, and stern action by Washington, could have pressured India into keeping its nukes in the closet, and reaching a compromise with Pakistan over the explosive issue of Kashmir. Now, it's too late.