China Conducts Test of Nuclear Bomb
China conducted an underground nuclear test today, its second in three months, the official New China News Agency said in a brief report, which contained no other details.
Despite worldwide criticism, China’s repeated nuclear bomb tests reflect the government’s determination to build a credible deterrent against what it perceives as threats from the West.
The test was conducted at Lop Nor nuclear test site in the western region of Xinjiang at 9 a.m. local time, said the Australian Geological Survey Organization in Canberra.
The blast was the equivalent of 20 to 80 kilotons of conventional explosives, the Australian seismologists said.
China is expected to conduct three more tests before the end of 1996, when negotiators hope a worldwide comprehensive test ban treaty will take effect. China has refused to join other nuclear powers in a test moratorium.
Military experts believe China is trying to create lighter, more powerful warheads.
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