 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
      |
   |
Updated December 2005
Nuclear Chronology
1980-1984
May 1980
China successfully test-launches two intercontinental-range ballistic missiles from nuclear sites in Xinjiang Province into the Pacific Ocean, 6,250 miles away. Both shots landed on target in the South Pacific Ocean, about 700 miles from Fiji.
— Joseph Harsch, "Guns For China?," Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 1980, p. 23, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
July 1980
President Carter meets with Chinese Premier Hua Guofeng in Tokyo, underscoring the importance of the quasi-alliance between the U.S., China, and Japan.
— Robert Manning, "Washington's Risky China Card," Christian Science Monitor, 17 July 1980, p. 23, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
14 September 1980
Deng Zefang, the son of Deng Xiaoping, claims to see Peng Jiamu at a restaurant in Washington, DC. Peng Jiamu, a Chinese nuclear scientist who had been the deputy chairman of the Academy of Sciences in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, disappeared from the Lop Nur nuclear weapons facility on 17 June 1980.
— UPI, "Deng's Son Is Said to Have Seen Missing Chinese Scientist in U.S.," New York Times, 12 October 1980, p. 11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
18 September 1980
The United States and the People's Republic of China complete the process of normalizing relations by signing four agreements on trade, consulates, direct airline service and textiles.
— "Transcript of the President's News Conference on Foreign and Domestic Matters," New York Times, 19 September 1980, p. B5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 October 1980
China sets off an atmospheric nuclear explosion at 12:30 AM at the Lop Nur nuclear test site. U.S. officials estimate the yield is between 200 kilotons and 1 megaton. This is China's 27th nuclear test and the first atmospheric test since 1978.
— AP, "China Sets Off A-Blast in Atmosphere, First of its Kind Since '78," New York Times, 17 October 1980, p. A9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
17 October 1980
French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing announces that Beijing pledges to purchase two 900-megawatt nuclear reactors from France. The reactors will cost $1 billion each and will be China's first reactors used for electricity generation.
— AP, "Giscard Says the Chinese Agree to Buy 2 Power-Plant Reactors," New York Times, 18 October 1980, p. 11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
10 February 1981
China announces that the first Chinese-made atomic reactor, a large, high-flux test and research atomic reactor, entered operation in December 1980 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The 125,000-kilowatt (kw) reactor was made entirely from domestically produced parts. The reactor is to be used for a wide range of tasks including testing the effects of neutrons on materials and the production of radioactive isotopes.
— "Chinese Report A-Reactor Made by Them is Working," Christian Science Monitor, 10 February 1981, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Barry Kramer, Wall Street Journal, 11 February 1981, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
12 February 1981
Yu Peiwen, head of the Chinese delegation to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, calls upon the United States and the Soviet Union to reduce their nuclear arsenals before other nuclear states should be expected consider a testing ban. According to Yu, such a ban on nuclear weapons testing "would only serve to maintain and consolidate the superiority of the super powers without reducing the danger of nuclear war."
— "China Calls For Reduction in Nuclear Weapons Stocks," New York Times, 13 February 1981, p. A4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
10 April 1981
China presents two statements, one entitled "Halting the Nuclear Arms Race and Nuclear Disarmament," and the other, "A Comprehensive Arms Reduction Plan." Yu Peiwen, head of the Chinese Delegation to the UN Conference on Disarmament, states that "countries having the largest nuclear weapons arsenals must take action first to halt the nuclear arms race, halting the testing, development, and production of all types of nuclear weapons, and greatly reducing nuclear weapons...other nuclear countries also have a certain responsibility. At a certain stage in nuclear arms reduction, they must also take action."
— Liu Huaqiu, "Analysis of Nuclear Arms Control Policy," Xiandai Junshi (Conmilit), 11 November 1995, in FBIS-CHI-95-246.
4 August 1981
Yu Peiwen, the head of China's delegation to the Conference on Disarmament, states: "China is opposed to major power nuclear monopoly. Like many other peace-loving countries, China does not advocate or encourage nuclear proliferation, and we are emphatically opposed to any production of nuclear weapons by racists and expansionists such as South Africa and Israel...The nuclear-weapons states should recognize the fact that the non-nuclear-weapon states find themselves menaced by the danger of nuclear war and nuclear threat and that it is the strong demand of the peoples of the world that the superpowers halt the arms race and carry our nuclear disarmament. The nuclear weapons states should unconditionally guarantee not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon states without further delay, and at the same time, they should take effective measures to carry out nuclear disarmament until the ultimate goal of complete prohibition and total destruction of nuclear weapons is achieved. China has unilaterally undertaken the unconditional commitment not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and suggests that, when an international convention on security assurances is elaborated, the inclusion of such commitments should be taken into consideration."
— Xinhua News Agency, 4 August 1981; in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.
6 August 1981
China presents a working paper entitled "On the Question of Security Assurances" to the Conference on Disarmament.
— Working Paper by the Chinese Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament, "On the Question of Security Assurances," CD/207, 6 August 1981.
Fall 1981
James Malone, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, makes an unpublicized trip to China to discuss the possibility of reaching an agreement on nuclear cooperation. The United States position requires that China provide assurances that the nuclear technology and nuclear fuel will only be used for peaceful purposes and that they will not be re-exported to other countries. Chinese authorities have stated that they have problems with allowing international inspections.
— Bernard Gwertzman, "U.S. and China Discussing Export of Nuclear Technology," New York Times, 2 June 1982, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 November 1981
Following the intrusion of a Soviet submarine into Swedish territory, the official Xinhua News Agency accuses the Soviet Union of duplicity for supporting West European nuclear disarmament activities. The Soviet submarine was widely suspected of carrying nuclear weapons. "To seek Soviet good will by declaring a neutral status for Europe or unilateral disarmament could only fall into the Russian trap of taking Europe without firing a shot."
— UPI, "Peking Accuses Moscow of Nuclear Duplicity," New York Times, 9 November 1981, pg. 5; Christopher Wren, "China Taunts Soviets on Submarine Stranding," New York Times, 11 November 1981, pg. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 April 1982
China presents a working paper entitled "On Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons" to the Conference on Disarmament.
— Working Paper by the Chinese Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament, "On Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons," CD/278, 16 April 1982, <http://www.nti.org/db/china/engdocs/cd0482.htm>.
June 1982
During a training exercise held in Ningxia Province focusing on a mock Soviet invasion, the Chinese military simulates a tactical nuclear weapon explosion.
— AP, "China Simulates Atomic blast in War Games Aimed at Soviet," New York Times, 14 July 1982, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
2 June 1982
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Walter Stoessel, Jr. announces that the U.S. government has been conducting discussions with Beijing to examine the possibility of reaching an agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation. This would allow U.S. companies to assist in the development of the fledgling Chinese nuclear power industry. However, China must allow international inspections to verify the peaceful use of the technology and equipment.
— Bernard Gwertzman, "U.S. and China Discussing Export of Nuclear Technology," New York Times, 2 June 1982, p. A1. in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
11 June 1982
Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua announces to the United Nations General Assembly that China will undertake to "stop the development and production of nuclear weapons and to further reduce and ultimately destroy them altogether," provided that the United States and the Soviet Union reduce their nuclear stockpiles by 50 percent.
— Philip Boffey, "China Offers to Join Disarmament Move," New York Times, 12 June 1982, p. 3.
17 June 1982
Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua accuses the Soviet Union of merely paying lip service to the ideal of disarmament while promoting rapid all-around development of its military strength. Moscow's Tass News Agency attacks Huang for his remarks, which were made at the UN General Assembly, accusing China of trying to disarm Moscow and Washington while building up its own nuclear forces.
— "Peking and Moscow Spar Over Nuclear Disarmament," Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 1982, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
21 June 1982
At the second UN Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD), Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua presents a statement entitled "Recommendations for the Immediate Halt to the Arms Race and Principal Actions for Disarmament." In this statement, China presents its six basic principles on nuclear disarmament:
(1) Disarmament and international security are inseparable;
(2) The two superpowers should take the lead in reducing their arsenals and destroying all nuclear weapons, and should commit themselves to the no-first-use of nuclear weapons;
(3) Nuclear and conventional disarmament should go hand-in-hand;
(4) Small and medium-sized countries have the right to maintain the defense capability necessary for defending against aggression and protecting their independence;
(5) Any disarmament agreement should provide strict and effective measures for international verification;
(6) All nations, big or small, nuclear or non-nuclear, are entitled to take part in deliberations or talks on disarmament issues and to supervise the implementation of related agreements.
Huang also states that the United States and Soviet Union should halt nuclear weapon testing, improvement, and production, and take the lead in drastically reducing their nuclear weapons and delivery systems. Huang states that "the Soviet Union and the United States should...reduce by 50 percent all types of their nuclear weapons and means of delivery. Thereafter, China would join all other nuclear states [in the reduction] of their respective nuclear arsenals according to agreed levels and procedures."
— Lai Yali, "The United Nations and the Third World," Beijing Review, 21 October 1995, p. 17; Robert Karniol, "China Conducts Nuclear Test Amid Controversy," Jane's Defence Weekly, 26 August 1995, p. 14; J. Mohan Malik, "China's Policy Towards Nuclear Arms Control In The Post-Cold War Era," Contemporary Security Policy, 8/95, p. 5; Liu Huaqiu, "Analysis of Nuclear Arms Control Policy," Xiandai Junshi (Conmilit), 11 November 1995, in FBIS-CHI-95-246; "China: Arms Control And Disarmament," Information Office of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, November 1995.
5 August 1982
French nuclear power company Framatome announces that it will bid on construction of China's first nuclear power station originally planned near Shanghai. Framatome will compete with West Germany's Rheinisch-Westfalisches Elektrizitatswerk, the U.S. based Westinghouse Electric Corporation and the General Electric Company of Britain.
— Reuters, "French Bid in China," New York Times, 5 August 1982, pg. D10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
18 September 1982
U.S. officials suggest that the nuclear cooperation agreement with China is being held up due to U.S. suspicions that China has provided nuclear assistance to Pakistan, Argentina, South Africa, and possibly India. Western intelligence reports suggest that China has assisted Pakistan in acquiring the capability to enrich uranium. Low-enriched uranium from China has ended up in South Africa and Chinese-produced heavy water has reached Argentina and possibly India.
— Judith Miller, "U.S. is Holding Up Peking Atom Talks," New York Times, 19 September 1982, p. 11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
24 September 1982
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher discusses potential nuclear cooperation with China during her visit to the PRC. China has approached Britain (and the United States) about purchasing technology needed for two 900-megawatt heavy-water reactors that China plans on building in Guangdong Province.
— Christopher Wren, "China Denies Selling Uranium to South Africa," New York Times, 26 September 1982, p. 12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
25 September 1982
The Chinese government officially denies U.S. claims that China sold reactor-grade uranium to South Africa, claiming the report is "sheer fabrication."
— Christopher Wren, "China Denies Selling Uranium to South Africa," New York Times, 26 September 1982, p. 12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
29 September 1982
China announces that it has started construction on its first nuclear power station near Shanghai. The $290 million station will have two 300 megawatt reactors and is expected to be operational by 1988. The equipment is being designed and made in Shanghai.
— Christopher Wren, "China is Building Atom Power Plant," New York Times, 30 September 1982, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 October 1982
China conducts its 28th nuclear test. It is conducted underground and yields an explosion of between 3 to 15 kilotons of TNT.
— Xiaoping Yang, Robert North and Carl Romney, "CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3): CMR Technical Report CMR-00/16," August 2000, <http://www.rdss.info/database/nucex/report/explosion.pdf>; US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Monitoring Research Program "Nuclear Explosion Database," <http://www.rdss.info/index_ie.html>.
11 November 1982
China announces that its first nuclear power plant will be built near Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province and not in Shanghai as previously reported.
— AP, "An A-Plant Switch by China," New York Times, 12 November 1982, p. B7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
22 November 1982
China announces that it will break ground early in 1983 on its first nuclear power station. The station is expected to be completed within seven years. In December, crews will begin laying out roads, water and power lines and building the foundation for the plant at Hangzhou Bay, about 80 miles southwest of Shanghai.
— AP, "China Plans to Start Building Its First Atomic Power Plant," New York Times, 23 November 1982, p. 8, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
27 December 1982
French officials announce that France and China have concluded a preliminary agreement to help China develop peaceful nuclear technology. The two countries will embark on a joint program of nuclear research that will include an exchange of scientists between the two countries. The deal marks the beginning of a framework that could include a separate agreement on reactor safety.
— Reuters, "Paris-Peking Nuclear Accord," New York Times, 28 December 1982, p. A7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
26 February 1983
A senior Nuclear Industry official quoted by the Xinhua News Agency says that China has enough uranium to meet all military and civilian needs for thirty years. The official states that China's present reserves are sufficient for its nuclear weapons program and for nuclear power stations with 15,000 total megawatts of generating capacity.
— "Uranium Deposits in China," New York Times, 27 February 1983, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
3 March 1983
China's Defense Minister Zhang Aiping writes in the journal Red Flag that China should use the current peaceful international atmosphere to develop new weapons and technologies in order to modernize the national defense. "Defense funds should be concentrated on those programs which are badly needed and the most important areas which affect the overall situation, such as strategic guided missiles and centers for producing nuclear fuel and bombs."
— Reuters, "China is Urged to Make Missiles and Bombs," New York Times, 4 March 1983, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
26 March 1983
China and Britain agree to study Hong Kong's participation in the Chinese-proposed nuclear power station to be located in Guangdong Province, 40 miles east of the Shenzhen special economic zone that borders Hong Kong.
— Reuters, "Chinese Nuclear Plant Pact," New York Times, 27 March 1983, p. 4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
April 1983
China's Minister of External Trade and Economic Relations, Chen Muhua, visits Paris, raising hopes that the French company Framatome will win the bid to assist in the construction of China's first nuclear power plant.
— Reuters, "French and Chinese Discuss Nuclear Plant," New York Times, 12 April 1983, p. A6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 May 1983
France and China sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of four 900-megawatt nuclear reactors to China.
— Reuters, "Reactors for China," New York Times, 6 May 1983, p. D12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 June 1983
China joins the Antarctic Treaty, which internationalized and demilitarized the Antarctic continent and provided for its cooperative exploration and future use. The treaty served as a model for later "nonarmament" treaties— the treaties that excluded nuclear weapons from outer space, from the seabed, and from certain geographic regions.
— Roland M. Timerbaev and Meggen M. Watt, Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes, 1995 edition, p. 53; Walter C. Clemens, Jr., "China," in Richard Dean Burns, ed., Encyclopedia of Arms Control and Disarmament, vol. 1, p. 67.
24 June 1983
Richard Kennedy, the U.S. representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, says that the potential of countries such as China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa to become suppliers of nuclear fuel is becoming a factor in attempts to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technologies.
— AP, "U.S. and Soviet Discuss Spread of Nuclear Arms," New York Times, 25 June 1983, p. 4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
4 May 1983
China conducts its 29th nuclear test, an underground explosion with a yield of about 1 kiloton.
— Xiaoping Yang, Robert North and Carl Romney, "CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3): CMR Technical Report CMR-00/16," August 2000, <http://www.rdss.info/database/nucex/report/explosion.pdf>; US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Monitoring Research Program "Nuclear Explosion Database," <http://www.rdss.info/index_ie.html>.
July 1983
China announces that it is ready to take up the seat in the International Atomic Energy Agency left vacant when Taiwan was expelled in 1971 after the U.N. General Assembly recognized Beijing as the legitimate government of China.
— Reuters, "China Considers Joining World Nuclear Agency," New York Times, 17 August 1983, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
11 July 1983
A Chinese delegation, including officials from the Foreign Ministry, meet with officials in the U.S. State Department to discuss the possibility of purchasing U.S. nuclear reactors. Despite having already signed a letter of intent with France, Beijing has reportedly indicated a preference for U.S. technology and plants. The Reagan administration has been reluctant to discuss the sales because of U.S. suspicions that China has provided nuclear assistance to Pakistan and South Africa. However, the Chinese State Commission for Science and Technology issued a statement that the U.S. has already drafted a proposed agreement for "the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
— Richard Halloran, "Weinberger Planning to Visit China in the Fall," New York Times, 12 July 1983, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Peking May Soon Buy U.S. Nuclear Technology," Christian Science Monitor, 12 July 1983, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
17 August 1983
After a visit from the International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Hans Blix, China announces that it is considering an early application for membership, taking over the seat left vacant when Taiwan was expelled from the agency in 1971 after the U.N. General Assembly recognized Beijing as the legitimate government of China.
— Reuters, "China Considers Joining World Nuclear Agency," New York Times, 18 August 1983, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
22 August 1983
According to the publication Jane's Fighting Ships, China has developed a nuclear-powered submarine, the Xia-class, which can fire nuclear missiles at targets 1,800 miles away. There are at least one or two more that are operational with a total of five expected to join the Chinese navy in the near future. China joins the other four nuclear weapons states and becomes the fifth country to have a strategic missile submarine force after the U.S., the Soviet Union, Britain, and France. China already possesses two nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarines.
— AP London, "Peking Deploys a Missile-Firing Nuclear Sub," New York Times, 23 August 1983, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
September 1983
During a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian calls for an international conference on disarmament for all states possessing nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union and the United States reduce their nuclear arsenals by 50 percent.
— "China Makes Issue of Soviet Missiles," New York Times, 7 October 1983, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
30 September 1983
China applies for membership with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
— Yan Kong, "China's Nuclear Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, July 1993, p. 326
6 -29 October 1983
China and the Soviet Union hold the third round of talks in Beijing to discuss normalizing their relations. China raises its concerns about the Soviet deployment of SS-20 medium-range nuclear missiles next to China's northern border. China has set three conditions for improving relations between the two countries: (1) Soviet troops should withdraw from Afghanistan; (2) The Soviet Union should discontinue support for the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia; and (3) Soviet border forces should be sharply reduced. None of these issues are resolved, but both sides agree to meet again in Moscow in March 1984.
— "China Makes Issue of Soviet Missiles," New York Times, 7 October 1983, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Christopher Wren, "Soviet-China Talks End with Little Progress," New York Times, 30 October 1983, p. 6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
6 October 1983
China conducts its 30th nuclear test, an underground explosion that had a blast yield between 20 and 100 kilotons.
— Xiaoping Yang, Robert North and Carl Romney, "CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3): CMR Technical Report CMR-00/16," August 2000, <http://www.rdss.info/database/nucex/report/explosion.pdf>; US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Monitoring Research Program "Nuclear Explosion Database," <http://www.rdss.info/index_ie.html>.
11 October 1983
China's application for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is unanimously approved by the IAEA General Conference. Wang Shu, the head of the Chinese delegate to the IAEA, states that China will seriously consider the agency's safeguards and inspection system, but that China will not sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). China's membership will become official on 1 January 1984.
— Reuters, "China Joins Agency that Inspects Reactors," New York Times, 12 October 1983, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; David Willis, "Some Progress is Seen on Containing the Spread of Nuclear Weapons," Christian Science Monitor, 25 October 1983, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
6 November 1983
Deng Xiaoping says he believes the deployment of U.S. nuclear missiles in Western Europe is inevitable.
— Reuters, "Chinese Says the Deployment of U.S. Missiles is Inevitable," New York Times, 6 November 1983, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
10 November 1983
The Hong Kong government approves a plan for a local power company to jointly build and run a $4.6 billion nuclear power plant with China in Guangdong Province.
— Wall Street Journal, 10 November 1983, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 December 1983
China and Great Britain sign agreements to clear the way for the formation of a joint venture company which will build and run a nuclear power plant in Guangdong province.
— Wall Street Journal, 8 December 1983, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
30 December 1983
China accedes to the Outer Space Treaty (OST), under which members of the treaty agree not to place in orbit, install on the moon or any other celestial body, or otherwise station in space, nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. The OST also limits the use of the moon and other celestial bodies exclusively to peaceful purposes and prohibits their use for establishing military installations or fortifications; testing weapons; or conducting military maneuvers.
— Roland M. Timerbaev and Meggen M. Watt, Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes, 1995 edition, p. 53; Walter C. Clemens, Jr., "China," in Richard Dean Burns, ed., Encyclopedia of Arms Control and Disarmament, vol. 1, p. 67.
January 1984
The China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation signs a letter of intent with three German companies to provide storage space for 4,000 tons of nuclear waste from European nuclear reactors for approximately $5.45 billion. China has also approached the Swiss government to arrange waste storage deals.
— Paul Lewis, "China Bids to Store Radioactive Waste," New York Times, 8 February 1984, p. D1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
1 January 1984
China's membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) becomes official. China is the IAEA's 112th member.
— AP, "China Becomes Member of World Atom Agency," The New York Times, 7 January 1984, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
10-12 January 1984
Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang visits Washington, D.C. for three days, seeking an agreement for U.S.-China nuclear cooperation. At the end of the trip, U.S. officials say that great progress was made on the nuclear accord and that President Reagan is expected to sign the accord when he visits China in April.
— Bernard Gwertzman, "U.S. Seeks Treaty with the Chinese on Nuclear Ties," New York Times, 10 January 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Maureen Dowd, "U.S. and China Sign Technology Pacts," New York Times, 13 January 1984, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
10 January 1984
Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang states during a White House state dinner: "We [the Chinese government] are critical of the discriminatory treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, but we do not advocate or encourage nuclear proliferation. We do not engage in nuclear proliferation ourselves, nor do we help other countries develop nuclear weapons. We actively support all proposals that are truly helpful to realizing nuclear disarmament, terminating the nuclear arms race, and eliminating the threat of nuclear war."
— Xinhua News Agency, 11 January 1984, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.
17 January 1984
Chinese Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang addresses the Canadian Parliament and praises the efforts of Prime Minister Trudeau to contain the nuclear arms race. "We [the Chinese government] support his appeal for participation from all political leaders of the world in the cause of safeguarding peace. There are hot spots in the world, and the nuclear arms race is becoming white hot." Zhao expresses his hope that all "peace-loving nations go into action to urge the two major nuclear powers, who represent 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, to stop the nuclear arms race, resume disarmament talks and agree on measure to drastically reduce nuclear arms to create conditions for joint disarmament by all nuclear countries."
— Michael Kaufman, "Zhao Addresses Canada Assembly," New York Times, 18 January 1984, p. A7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
2 March 1984
Japan and China announce that a partial nuclear cooperation agreement has been reached that will allow Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to export a pressure vessel component for China's first commercial nuclear power plant. Japan agreed after China committed itself "to a peaceful utilization of nuclear energy" and agreed to allow 'good-will visits' of Japanese scientists to the power plant upon request.
— AP, "Japan-China Nuclear Talks," New York Times, 3 March 1984, p. 35, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Clyde Haberman, "Japan's Premier Starts China Visit Today With Loan Pledge," New York Times, March 23, 1984, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
2 April 1984
Peng Zhen, chairman of China's National People's Congress, tells a visiting delegation from the European Parliament that China supports a Western European nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union. "If a lion is going to attack you, you've got to be in a position to frighten it away." This is the first time a high-level Chinese official has endorsed nuclear weapons in Western Europe.
— AP, "Chinese Back Nuclear Arms," New York Times, 3 April 1984, p. A2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
10 April 1984
U.S. officials raise concerns about whether a nuclear cooperation agreement with China can be completed in time for signing during President Reagan's visit to Beijing on April 26, 1984. The agreement has snagged due to Chinese opposition to U.S. congressional requirements that the U.S. has the right to approve the uses for spent fuel from U.S. built nuclear power reactors regardless of the source of the original uranium fuel. In response, Beijing calls for another round of negotiations.
— Daniel Southerland, "US-China Nuclear Pact May Be Out of Reagan's Reach," Christian Science Monitor, 10 April 1984, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Clyde Farnsworth, "Nuclear Talks with Chinese," New York Times, 16 April 1984, p. D2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
23 April 1984
Officials in the Reagan administration announce that a nuclear cooperation agreement with China has been reached. The official announcement and signing will take place when President Reagan reaches Beijing on April 26, 1984. The agreement was reached after China conceded not to reprocess or store spent fuel without the U.S. prior consent. In return, the U.S. will not use safeguards to impede Chinese development of its nuclear industry.
— Steven Weisman, "U.S. Said to Reach Pact With Chinese on Nuclear Power," New York Times, 24 April 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Christopher Wren, "Chinese Concessions Permits U.S. Accord on Atom Power," New York Times, 27 April 1984, p. A4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
26 April 1984
China announces it is set to sign contracts this summer with French and British firms for the construction of a 1.8 million kilowatt nuclear power plant in Guangdong province.
— Wall Street Journal, 26 April 1984, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
26 April 1984
Coinciding with President Reagan's visit to Beijing, the United States formally announces the conclusion of initial negotiations for a nuclear cooperation agreement for peaceful uses of nuclear energy with China. The U.S.-China agreement will create a framework under which U.S. companies can sell nuclear reactors, components, materials and related technology. After the agreement is formally signed, various U.S. agencies will still examine it, including the Departments of State and Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Arms Control Disarmament Agency. When announcing the agreement, U.S. officials focus not only on the economic benefits to accrue from the deal, but also see it as an indication of Chinese willingness to follow international norms in the nonproliferation field.
— Christopher Wren, "Chinese Concessions Permits U.S. Accord on Atom Power," New York Times, 27 April 1984, p. A4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Bernard Gwertzman, "China's Signing of Atom Pact Seen as a Major Policy Change," New York Times, 3 May 1984, p. A8, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
1 May 1984
China and Germany sign an agreement for developing peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
— Wall Street Journal, 1 May 1984, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
11 May 1984
In a change from earlier policy statements, China's working paper (A/CN.10/62) to the UN Conference on Disarmament calls upon the United States and the Soviet Union to undertake "tremendous (substantial) reduction" in their respective arsenals. This wording diverges from the previous insistence of a 50 percent reduction of the U.S. and Soviet arsenals as a condition for Chinese participation in nuclear disarmament [talks?]. China reportedly sees a reduction to around 1,000 warheads as the threshold needed for its participation in any multilateral nuclear disarmament process. According to Chinese academic Liu Huaqiu, in light of the 1983 U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) proposal, this revision is justified in order to ensure China's limited deterrent capability.
— Banning N. Garrett and Bonnie S. Glaser, "Chinese Perspectives On Nuclear Arms Control," International Security, Winter 1995/96, p. 47; Liu Huaqiu, "Analysis of Nuclear Arms Control Policy," Xiandai Junshi (Conmilit), 11 November 1995, in FBIS-CHI-95-246.
30 May 1984
Chinese Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang addresses a joint session of the French National Assembly and Senate, calling again for an international conference on disarmament to discuss ways for the superpowers to reduce their nuclear stockpiles.
— Reuters, "Zhao Presses Soviet and U.S. on Arms Talks," New York Times, 31 May 1984, p. A9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
2 June 1984
Chinese Prime Minister Zhao Ziyang announces that China and France are close to concluding an agreement on a contract to construct a nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province. However, some differences remain on the financing of the contract.
— E.J. Dionne Jr., "China and France Near Nuclear Accord," New York Times, 3 June 1984, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
15 June 1984
U.S. officials announce that a nuclear cooperation agreement with China is unlikely to be completed by the end of the year. China has yet to provide sufficient guarantees that appropriate safeguards will be in place to prevent U.S. nuclear technology and fuel from being diverted to Chinese military use or transferred and used by other nations to develop a nuclear weapons program. U.S. officials are especially concerned about intelligence that shows Chinese nuclear assistance to Pakistan has continued since 1980, despite Chinese claims to the contrary. The nuclear cooperation pact continues to undergo review by several agencies including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before going before Congress and the President for final approval.
— Richard Halloran, "U.S.-China Nuclear Pact Hits Snags," New York Times, 16 June 1984, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
20 June 1984
Deputy Prime Minister Li Peng, responding to the hold-up of the nuclear cooperation pact, says that the United States will be the first to suffer a financial loss if the pact is delayed or blocked by Congress. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yu Zhizong reiterates Chinese pledges against the spread of nuclear weapons and expresses regret that Washington was raising unnecessary new issues after the nuclear cooperation agreement had been worked out through long negotiations.
— Reuters, "China Criticizes U.S. On Nuclear Pact Delay," New York Times, 21 June 1984, p. A11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Peking Says US Violates Pledge With Sale of Planes," Christian Science Monitor, 21 June 1984, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Leslie Gelb, "Pakistan Tie Imperils U.S.-China Nuclear Pact," New York Times, 22 June 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
20 June 1984
Democratic Senator Alan Cranston from California delivers a speech declaring that Pakistan has achieved the ability to produce nuclear weapons. He bases his conclusions on a study submitted by the Defense Nuclear Agency that also outlines Chinese nuclear cooperation with Pakistan since 1980. In particular, China is accused of assisting Pakistan in developing centrifuges for the enrichment of uranium at the Pakistani enrichment plant in Kahuta.
— Leslie Gelb, "Pakistan Tie Imperils U.S.-China Nuclear Pact," New York Times, 22 June 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Cranston Says Pakistan Can Make A-Bomb," New York Times, 21 June 1984, p. A14, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
21 June 1984
White House spokesperson Larry Speakes announces that the Reagan administration remains concerned about the unsafeguarded nuclear activities in Pakistan and acknowledges that U.S. officials have spoken to China about "the outstanding issues." According to Speakes, "We have made clear throughout the negotiations [over U.S.-China nuclear cooperation] that peaceful nuclear cooperation has to rest on basic, shared nonproliferation principles and practices." Administration officials interviewed by The New York Times stress that the information on Chinese nuclear assistance to Pakistan is not conclusive.
— Leslie Gelb, "Pakistan Tie Imperils U.S.-China Nuclear Pact," New York Times, 22 June 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
22 June 1984
The New York Times reports that China will offer no additional assurances beyond its publicly stated pledges against nuclear proliferation. Chinese officials state that China must take a "stand of principle" as the public word of Prime Minster Zhao Ziyang is at stake. As one official stated, "Either you believe us or you don't." White House spokesperson Larry Speakes says that the Reagan administration is "hopeful" that Beijing will satisfy U.S. concerns about nuclear proliferation, but that the pact will not be submitted to Congress until "we are satisfied there's a mutual understanding between us and the Chinese, and we are able to meet the requirements of our law." [U.S. law requires countries that seek to buy U.S. nuclear technology to first agree to guarantees and procedures that will prevent the transfer of nuclear technology and materials to other countries.]
— Leslie Gelb, "Peking Said to Balk at Nuclear Pledges," New York Times, 23 June 1984, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5-6 July 1984
A U.S. government delegation led by the director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Kenneth Adelman, meets with Chinese Vice-Foreign Minster Han Xu to discuss arms control. The Chinese newspaper People's Daily accuses both the United States and the Soviet Union of trying to score propaganda points with such meetings without seriously attempting to discuss reducing nuclear arsenals or preventing the weaponization of space.
— "US Arms-Control Team See Officials in Peking," Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 1984, p.2 in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
22 July 1984
A commentary in the Chinese newspaper People's Daily offers China's first reaction to the June announcement that the United States and the Soviet Union would upgrade the hotline between Moscow and Washington. Denouncing the move as "a cheap trick to cheat the peace-loving peoples of the world," the commentary questions the hotline's ability to prevent a nuclear war. According to the article, "To lessen truthfully the danger of nuclear annihilation...all [the United States and Soviet Union] have to do is stop producing and testing nuclear weapons, and gradually reduce the number of nuclear weapons, and the danger of nuclear catastrophe will clearly diminish."
— "China Calls Hot Line a 'Cheap Trick,'" New York Times, 23 July 1984, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
24 July 1984
A consortium of three West German companies, Nukem, Alfred Hempel, and Transnuklear, are expected to sign an agreement with China allowing the consortium to act as an agent to ship up to 5,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel from Western Europe for storage in China until 2000. The deal could be worth up to $6 billion in storage fees for China. However, industry officials note that about 50 tons of weapons-grade plutonium could be extracted from the spent fuel.
— Gary Yerkey, "W. Germans Clear Way to Store Europe's Nuclear Wastes in China," Christian Science Monitor, 24 July 1984, p. 12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
28 July 1984
Li Yimang, head of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, states at a world peace forum in Beijing that China will reduces its nuclear arsenal if both the U.S. and the USSR agree to take the lead in doing the same. "The small, limited number of nuclear weapons China has to keep at present is solely aimed at resisting nuclear blackmail and intimidation by the superpowers and at helping the struggle for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons."
— UPI, "China Calls for Nuclear Cuts," New York Times, 29 July 1984, p. 14, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
18 August 1984
China Daily reports that China has signed a contract to purchase equipment to monitor combustible elements in nuclear reactors from the West German firm Kraftwerk Union. This agreement was reached after negotiations with the French firm Framatome had failed.
— UPI, "Peking Reported to Buy Items for Nuclear Plants," New York Times, 19 August 1984, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
26 September 1984
Speaking before the UN General Assembly, China's Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian calls upon all nuclear weapon states to make a no-first-use pledge as the first step toward complete disarmament. The pledge should be followed by an end to nuclear testing, a reduction in nuclear arsenals and finally an international conference to establish nuclear disarmament. According to Wu, the primary responsibility falls upon the United States and the Soviet Union. "They possess over 95 percent of the world's total nuclear weaponry, and they alone are in a position to fight a nuclear war."
— James Feron, "China Calls on Nuclear Powers to Pledge on First Use of Weapons," New York Times, 27 September 1984, p. A4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
1 October 1984
In honor of the 35th year of Communist rule, military forces take part in a parade through Tiananmen Square and downtown Beijing for the first time in twenty-five years. The parade includes two intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, seen publicly for the first time. One of the missiles appears to be a CSS-4, China's largest ICBM that is capable of delivering a 50-megaton warhead over 8,000 miles.
— Christopher Wren, "China Displays its Big Missiles On Anniversary," New York Times, 2 October 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
3 October 1984
China conducts its 31st nuclear test, almost exactly one year to the day of its last test. This test was conducted underground and the explosion had a yield between 15-70 kilotons.
— Xiaoping Yang, Robert North and Carl Romney, "CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3): CMR Technical Report CMR-00/16," August 2000, <http://www.rdss.info/database/nucex/report/explosion.pdf>; US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Monitoring Research Program "Nuclear Explosion Database," <http://www.rdss.info/index_ie.html>.
16-20 December 1984
Representatives from the Japanese Foreign Ministry meet with Chinese officials to discuss a long-term nuclear cooperation accord. However, no agreement is reached due to differences on the wording of a clause defining the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
— Reuters, "China-Japan Nuclear Talks," New York Times, 21 December 1984, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
19 December 1984
The Swedish Defense Ministry reports that the Hagfors observatory has detected a Chinese underground nuclear test of a weak nuclear device at the Lop Nur testing ground in Xinjiang. This turns out to be China's 32nd nuclear test, which had a blast yield between 5-50 kilotons.
— Reuters, "Chinese Nuclear Test," New York Times, 22 December 1984, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Xiaoping Yang, Robert North and Carl Romney, "CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3): CMR Technical Report CMR-00/16," August 2000, <http://www.rdss.info/database/nucex/report/explosion.pdf>; US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Monitoring Research Program "Nuclear Explosion Database," <http://www.rdss.info/index_ie.html>.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2008
by MIIS.
