NQ DATE
M/ 88 18 June 1974
CHINESE NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, said today that
the Australian Government had received confirmation that the
Chinese Government had exploded a nuclear weapon device in the
atmosphere over its territory yesterday.
The Australian Government understood that the Chinese
explosion had been somewhat less than a megaton in size, and
that it appeared to have occurred at Lop Nor at about 4 p~ m.
yesterday. Mr Whitlam said that it was a matter of deep concern
to the Australian Government that the Chinese Government had
conducted a further nuclear test which was likely to lead to the
deposit of radio-active fallout not only within its own
territory but over a wide area including, in the longer term,
Australia.
S Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with
China in December 1972, the Australian Government had made known
to Chinese leaders its opposition to Chinese nuclear weapon tests
on a number of occasions. On 10 April 1973, the Government made
a formal protest to the Chinese Government expressing Australia's
strong opposition to the conduct of nuclear weapon tests and
reaffirmed the Australian Government's view that atmospheric
nuclear weapons testing was contrary to international law;
during his visit to China in May 1973 Dr Cairns re-stated the
Australian position to Premier Chou En-lai; he himself had
issued a statement expressing deep concern following the last
Chinese nuclear test on 27 June 1973; and soon afterwards formal
o/ 2
notes of protest had been delivered both to the Chinese
Foreign Ministry in Peking and the Chinese Embassy in
Australia. Most recently, he had vigorously re-stated the
Australian position during his meeting with Chairman Mao
Tse-tung on 2 November 1973.
Since China did not accept the compulsory
jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and was
not a party to the 1928 General Act for the Pacific Settlement
of International Disputes, it was not feasible for Australia
to initiate proceedings against China in the Court. Nevertheless9
the Australian Government considered that the Chinese Government,
as well as the French Government, had a clear obligation
towards the international community to prevent the dangers of
environmental pollution. The present Australian Government had
consistently opposed nuclear weapon testing by all countries and
would continue to work vigorously for a complete cessation of
such testing. 0 I