Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 5, 1993
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
Today, China conducted an underground nuclear test at the
Lop Nur test site in northwest China, despite the urging of more
than 20 nations, including the United States, not to do so.
The United States deeply regrets this action. We urge China
to refrain from further nuclear tests and to join the other
nuclear powers in a global moratorium. Such a moratorium will
contribute to the achievement of the Administration's goal of
completing a Comprehensive Test Ban by 1996, to which the
Administration is committed.
The President has today directed the Department of Energy to
take such actions as are needed to put the U.S. in a position to
be able to conduct nuclear tests next year, provided the
notification and review conditions of the Hatfield-Exon-Mitchell
amendment are met in the Spring of 1994.
The President's ultimate decision on whether to test will be
based on fundamental U.S. national security interests, taking
into account:
The contribution further tests would make to
improving the safety and reliability of the U.S.
arsenal in preparation for a Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty (CTB).
The extent to which China and others have
responded to the U.S. appeal for a global
moratorium on testing.
Progress in the CTB negotiations.
The implications of further U.S. nuclear tests on
our broader non-proliferation objectives.
Administration officials will begin consultations at once
with Congress and our allies on these issues.
# # #
Background Information:
U.S. Response to China's Nuclear Test
Today, China conducted an underground nuclear test at the Lop Nur
test site in northwest China. More than 20 nations, including
the United States, had urged them not to do so, in order not to
undermine our non-proliferation efforts.
The President has therefore directed the following in response to
today's Chinese test:
-- The Department of Energy will take such actions as are
necessary to put the United States in a position to be able
to conduct nuclear tests next year provided the notification
and review conditions of the Hatfield-Exon-Mitchell
Amendment are met in the Spring of 1994.
-- The President's ultimate decision to test or not test will
be based on U.S. fundamental national security interests and
will take into account (1) the contribution further tests
would make in improving the safety and reliability of the
U.S. arsenal in preparation for a CTB, (2) the extent to
which China and others have responded to the U.S. appeal for
a global moratorium, (3) progress in the CTB negotiations
and (4) the implications of further U.S. nuclear tests on
our broader nonproliferation objectives.
-- Administration officials will begin consultations at once
with Congress and our allies on these issues.
The Clinton Administration remains committed to the goal of
completing a Comprehensive Test Ban by 1996. The United States
urges China to refrain from further nuclear tests and to join the
other nuclear powers in a global moratorium.
The United States has been engaged since July with many other
nations to prepare for multilateral CTB negotiations. The
Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, with the strong support
of the United States and the other four nuclear weapon states,
decided on August 10 to give its Nuclear Test Ban Ad Hoc
Committee a mandate to begin these negotiations in January 1994.
We are also working with others on a UN General Assembly
resolution on a CTB which we hope will command broad support. We
hope and expect that China will help to bring about a CTB and
will carry through on the commitment China has made to Secretary
of State Christopher to seek to negotiate a CTB by 1996, a goal
that we share.
###
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uhuh.
Congress says they are balancing the budget.
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