PM Transcripts

TEL: 17. Aug. 95 1: 21 No. OOS
PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, TIlE RON P J KEATING MP
TESTING OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS BY CHINA
Australia condemns the latest test of a nuclear weapon by China.
This test is the second in only three months since the extension of the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ( NPI) in May this year. At the NPT Review and
Extension Conference all nuclear weapons states agreed to exercise ' utmost restraint'
with respect to nuclear testing pending the entry into force of a Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty in 1996, and to work sincerely towards the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
China's action flies in the face or these undertakings, which it supported at the NP'T
conference. One of the unfortunate consequences of China's decision to continue testing is that
nations which aspire to possess nuclear weapons will question the sincerity of nuclear
weapons states to eventual nuclear disarmament and their interest in developing nuclear
weapons may be reinforced. Such a development would be a serious threat to world
peace. Australia welcortis the recent statement of the ASE AN Regional Forum, which called
on nuclear weapons states to bring an immediate end to nuclear testing, as a clear
expression of regional and international concerns about the continued and unwarranted
testing of nuclear weapons.
Australians are angry that despite the end of the Cold War and the successful extension
of the NPT both China and France have decided to continue testing nuclear weapons.
Our disappointment is the greater because of the restraint exhibited by the other nuclear
weapons states and the fact that these weapons testing programs are occurring at a
critical time in international negotiations on a number of nuclear non-prolireration and
disarmament initiatives.
Australia urges China to cease its nuclear weapons testing program now as both an
important boost to global non-proliferation and disanmament efforts and global security.
CANBERRA 17 August 1995