Toward a nuclear-weapon-free world: a Chinese perspective
- Fudan Univ., Shanghai (China)
In the present article, the author addresses China's policy on proliferation and nuclear testing. China, after observing an unannounced moratorium for more than a year, conducted a test last October, and maintains that it cannot exclude the need to carry out a few more tests for a certain period of time for national defense. The author discusses reasons for future tests. He suggests that a major factor in the testing may be to improve the safety and reliability of the present Chinese arsenal. He believes that whether or not China continues to test nuclear weapons will depend upon the balance of different national interests as perceived by the Chinese government. Following the underground test in Xinjiang province last October, the Chinese government issued a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali saying that it was entirely for the purpose of self-defense that China developed and possessed a small number of nuclear weapons, and that it had always exercised utmost restraint on nuclear testing. The letter also states that [open quotes]after a comprehensive test ban treaty is concluded and comes into effect, China will abide by it and carry out no more nuclear tests.[close quotes] The author concludes that an international treaty banning nuclear weapons tests is important, but a no-first-use agreement would be just as useful. He discusses options for effecting a world-wide non-proliferation policy.
- OSTI ID:
- 7022558
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States), Vol. 50:2; ISSN 0096-5243
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
CHINA
NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR FREEZE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
ARMS CONTROL
NATIONAL DEFENSE
RADIATION PROTECTION
ASIA
EXPLOSIONS
290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy
350200 - Arms Control- Proliferation- (1987-)