Soviet Union 1991

First update

While Yanayev was on a state visit to the Soviet Union, the Soviet and British governments also began negotiations on nuclear technology between the two countries. One problem when these experts sit together to negotiate is that everyone knows the opponent's trump card. It's just that the UK cannot make breakthroughs in certain key technical issues. What's more, the UK has recently vigorously supported the development of new energy industries and has not focused on nuclear energy for a long time.

In fact, both sides know in their hearts that the so-called nuclear technology negotiations are just a stepping stone to improve the relationship between the two countries. The real improvement is the economic exchanges between the two sides. It is just that these established powers need an excuse to open the shackles of the relationship between the two countries. The British Sizewell Nuclear Power Plant will be officially put into operation next year, so the UK really does not need Soviet nuclear technology. Even if they have experienced electricity market reform and a wave of privatization of energy companies, although they will later become a country that needs help from others to build nuclear technology for this reason.

Compared with the serious experts from the Soviet Union, the British side seemed a little impatient. They believed that these were just formal matters, and the real decision maker was the boss behind the scenes. Some experts even held their cheeks with one hand, closed their eyes and took a nap at the negotiation table.

"We believe that Britain's nuclear technology is quite complete. Although you built the first Oblinsk nuclear power station in 1954, we now have complete pressurized water reactor technology and can maximize the efficiency of civilian nuclear technology. . Of course, this is our point of view. I wonder what technology everyone here has that can surprise us?”

The tone of the experts who spoke first was obviously provocative. Since they were not here to negotiate, they did not mind deliberately exalting Britain in front of the Soviet Union. Influenced by the inertial thinking of the Cold War, these people have an inexplicable superiority to the socialist camp, because in their eyes, socialism means poverty. Although in the 1970s, the Soviet Union once had a welfare system that was the envy of the entire Western public.

"Furthermore, there was a major accident at your Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. Thank God, it almost didn't torture the British people to death far away in the vast continent. How can you say this allows us to treat your plant?" Are you confident about nuclear technology?" Another expert changed the subject. He began to talk about the nuclear accident that had occurred in the Soviet Union, "Unless you can provide absolute evidence that the Soviet nuclear technology is safe, then I think our Prime Minister will be happy to accept your nuclear technology."

After saying this, the corner of the negotiator's mouth twitched. Showing a look of disdain. The other British experts were suppressing their smiles, trying to see a trace of embarrassment on the faces of the Soviet nuclear technology negotiators. However, what disappointed them was that apart from their normal expressions, those people had no intention of competing with the British.

"Dear British gentlemen, can you listen to what I have to say?" the Soviet nuclear negotiator sitting in the middle spoke. There was no anger or roar in his tone, just as calm as a warm pool of water.

"I don't know what you think about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in the Soviet Union, but the information we officially released is basically the fact. When the staff of the nuclear power plant discovered the defects but deliberately concealed them, it led to this A tragedy occurred.”

"But as I said, this is a deliberate human negligence and has nothing to do with the failure of Soviet nuclear technology. Please also ask the British nuclear negotiators not to forget one thing, your Windsger plutonium The fire accident in the production plant in 1957 almost caused a serious nuclear radiation leak, and you, Seraphire. An old ventilation pipe at a German nuclear power plant also suffered a breakage, resulting in the leakage of radioactive plutonium that was five times higher than the standard. The groundwater at the Tonis nuclear power station near Edinburgh was contaminated with radioactivity and leaked from two pipelines in the offshore waters of northeastern England. At the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station on the coast, the backup cooling system has also failed."

Mance, a Soviet nuclear negotiator, systematically listed the accidents that the British people had experienced on civilian nuclear technology issues. At the same time, he explained, "We do not intend to quarrel with you at the negotiating table, or quarrel until we are red in the face. I want to tell you that there may be some flaws in nuclear technology, and we cannot give up the application of nuclear energy because of these flaws, right?”

Although what the Soviet Union said was like a slap on the face of the British negotiator whose smile had not yet solidified, and although the Soviet Union's tone was calm, the more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt. It's as embarrassing as a millionaire humiliating a millionaire. I was about to compare the issues. The UK has far more minor problems with nuclear power plants than the Soviet Union.

"Besides, the construction cost and operating cost of nuclear power plants in the UK are much higher than the newly emerging oil and natural gas energy applications. Don't you want to reduce the energy? After all, our Soviet Union can be said to have in-depth research on nuclear technology. country. We've worked on nuclear-powered cars, nuclear-powered aircraft, and even nuclear-powered lighthouses, and we've used nuclear bombs to deal with natural gas."

It is indeed a nation that dares to use nuclear bombs to dig canals. Slavic research on nuclear energy has almost reached a pathological level. At this time, the British finally realized that talking to Soviet experts about the use of civilian nuclear technology was simply humiliating themselves.

"Then there is the safety issue of nuclear technology. Similarly, we have experienced the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The Soviet Union's safety experience in nuclear leaks has improved several levels compared with before. This was done with the lives of thousands of soldiers. And the lessons learned by the displaced Soviet people cannot be drawn by participating in a few exercises or simulations."

The negotiator raised his head and asked calmly, "Can our nuclear technology negotiations continue now? Or can you at least listen to our opinions now? Although it may have been a bit dismissive to you before. . But I think these valuable opinions can at least prevent you from a tragedy like Chernobyl."

"Yes... so it's okay." The British negotiators no longer dared to look directly into each other's eyes, and their tone of voice became a little hesitant. The calm education of the Soviet negotiators directly made them begin to doubt themselves. life.

"Very good, this is our precautionary design drawing. Since we have not seen your gas-cooled reactor nuclear facility technology, we dare not make decisions without authorization. So if you think these designs are meaningful, we will If it makes no sense to continue the negotiation, then forget about it and stop it. We will not make such a deal with someone who is reluctant."

The Soviet Union adopted a retreat-to-advance approach, which made British experts feel the invisible pressure from the other side. Moreover, they also knew that the British government would reach this agreement because of certain transactions. Moreover, the Soviet government also said that it could How big the benefits will be depends on the game between them. Sure enough, this time the British experts chose to give in. They picked up the Soviet design plan and conducted a preliminary study and found that the other party's design was much more complete and reasonable.

This is simply unbelievable. The Soviet Union has not conducted actual inspections of British nuclear power plants. Why would they know so much about these things? When they recovered from the shock, the Soviet experts kept their mysterious smiles as always, and had an expression that said they had seen through everything.

"How did you do it? These designs are really...perfect." At this point, the British experts had to admit that the Soviet Union was really terrible, and they had completely figured out their methods. It was like a scalpel cutting along the flesh and blood with precision, analyzing everything about them at a glance.

After hearing the somewhat naive questions from the British side, the Soviet experts had no choice but to spread their hands and said, "With all due respect, it may be that the British have not made any breakthroughs in nuclear technology for almost thirteen years, while the Soviet Union has been committed to nuclear research. The use of technology. So in our view, your so-called advanced technology is nothing more than an outdated product." (To be continued.)