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Updated December 2005
Nuclear Chronology
1985-1989
18 January 1985
Chinese Vice-Premier Li Peng declares that China has no intention "at present or in the future" to help non-nuclear countries develop or acquire nuclear weapons. This speech is timed for President Reagan's second inauguration and seeks to allay concerns that have stalled the conclusion of the nuclear cooperation pact between the U.S. and China.
— Charlotte Saikowski, "Reagan Under Pressure to OK Reactor Pact With China: US Industry Concerned Congress May Not Ratify Nuclear Partnership," Christian Science Monitor, 4 March 1985, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
February 1985
China extends invitations to Germany and France to bid for the construction of its third nuclear power plant, the Sunan project in Jiangsu province. The Sunan Project calls for two 900-megawatt nuclear reactors and is expected to be the pilot project for the long-term development of China's civilian nuclear program. The United States is conspicuously left out of the invitations due to delays in finalizing the U.S.-China nuclear cooperation pact.
— Charlotte Saikowski, "Reagan Under Pressure to OK Reactor Pact With China: US Industry Concerned Congress May Not Ratify Nuclear Partnership," Christian Science Monitor, 4 March 1985, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
21 February 1985
For the first time, China offers to participate in a group working to develop a worldwide nuclear test ban in disarmament talks in Geneva.
— "China Offers to Join Group discussing Nuclear Test Ban," Christian Science Monitor, 21 February 1985, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
15 April 1985
China and Argentina sign an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Under the agreement, both parties are obliged to place their mutual nuclear imports under IAEA safeguards to verify their peaceful use. The agreement is signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and Argentine Foreign Minister Dante Caputo.
— Xinhua News Agency, 15 April 1985, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 May 1985
U.S. Energy Secretary John Herrington tells American nuclear power industry officials that he will do everything he can to promote foreign sales of U.S. reactors and nuclear technology, especially to China.
— "Energy Secretary Pledges Aid for Export of US Reactors," Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 1985, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 May 1985
State Department spokesperson Edward Djerejian announces that a proposed 18 May visit by a U.S. warship to Shanghai has been postponed due to a dispute over whether the vessel will be carrying nuclear weapons. In April, Chinese party leader Hu Yaobang had stated that the U.S. agreed not to send a nuclear-armed vessel. However, U.S. officials deny giving such assurances, since under U.S. policy, the government refuses to specify which ships carry nuclear weapons.
— Reuters, "Visit by a U.S. Warship to China is Postponed," New York Times, 14 May 1985, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 July 1985
China and Japan initial an agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy that will allow Japanese firms to compete for contracts to build nuclear power plants in China. The agreement is expected to be signed in Tokyo later in July 1985.
— Reuters, "China and Japan Initial Pact on the Use of Nuclear Energy," New York Times, 7 July 1985, p. 8, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
20 July 1985
The U.S. Departments of State and Energy send formal written recommendations to President Reagan asking for approval of the nuclear cooperation agreement with China. Kenneth Adelman, director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, also sends a statement affirming that the agreement is consistent with U.S. nonproliferation policy. These recommendations are necessary before President Reagan can sign the agreement.
— Bernard Gwertzman, "U.S.-China Pact on Nuclear Aid Said to be Near," New York Times, 21 July 1985, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
23 July 1985
During a visit to Washington by Chinese President Li Xiannian, President Reagan concludes the nuclear cooperation agreement with China, originally initialed in Beijing on 30 April 1984. The accord is signed by U.S. Energy Secretary John Herrington and Chinese Vice-Premier Li Peng. The agreement will now go before Congressional review to ensure that it meets the requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Nonproliferation Act. The agreement will go into effect after 90 legislative days, unless it is rejected by both houses. The agreement opens up the possibility for U.S. nuclear companies to export nuclear power stations and nuclear technology to China. Industry officials estimate that orders could reach $8 billion over the next 15 years.
— Bernard Weinraub, "Reagan Welcomes Peking President; Atom Pact Signed," New York Times, 24 July 1984, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Charlotte Saikowski, "Nuclear Power Industry Delighted Over US-China Pact," Christian Science Monitor, 25 July 1985, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 August 1985
In a telegram reply to the chairman of the Japanese Council of Organizations of Victims of Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang states: "Our only purpose in developing a small number of nuclear arms is to resist nuclear blackmail. China has repeatedly declared to the world that it will never use nuclear weapons first, never sell or give nuclear weapons to other countries and never deploy nuclear weapons abroad...At present, the threat of nuclear war and obstacles to nuclear disarmament come from the two nuclear giants who possess more than 95 percent of the world's nuclear weapons." Zhao calls upon the two superpowers to respect the world's desire to abolish nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear war, to stop their nuclear arms race, to conduct sincere negotiations, to take the lead in halting testing, improving and manufacturing nuclear weapons, and to reach agreement on substantially reducing their nuclear arsenals. Once the two countries have fulfilled these conditions, China will support the convening of an international conference of all nuclear-weapon states to discuss nuclear weapons reductions and the complete prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons. Zhao says that "China is ready to shoulder its due responsibility" in this area.
— Lai Yali, "The United Nations and the Third World," Beijing Review, 21 October 1985, p. 17.
24 September 1985
During a speech at the 29th conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Zhou Ping, Deputy Minister of China's Ministry of Nuclear Industry, announces that China will open some of its civilian nuclear plants to international inspection and safeguards. "We wish to state here that the Chinese Government has decided to voluntarily offer to place some of its civilian nuclear installations under IAEA safeguards at an appropriate time and will have consultations with the agency on this matter." Zhou also states that this decision was reached independently and is not the result of any bilateral negotiations.
— UPI, "Peking, in a Surprise, Agrees to Nuclear-Plant Inspections," New York Times, 25 September 1985, p. A6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
30 September 1985
During a speech at the UN General Assembly, China's Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian reiterates China's call for all nuclear powers to make no first-use pledges. Wu also calls upon both the U.S. and USSR to halt the arms race in outer space and states that a treaty for the "complete prohibition and destruction of outer-space weaponry should be concluded as soon as possible."
— Elaine Sciolino, "Chinese Official Asks End to Arms Race in Space," New York Times, 1 October 1985, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 October 1985
Deng Xiaoping reportedly tells Bavarian Premier Franz Josef Strauss that Gorbachev's proposal that the United States and Soviet Union both cut their nuclear arsenals in half is not substantial. As long as the two superpowers have the capability to destroy the world, "a 50 percent reduction does not mean any substantial change."
— Reuters, "Deng Skeptical on Soviet Offer," New York Times, 6 October 1985, p. 6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
9 October 1985
As Congress reviews the U.S.-China Agreement for Nuclear Cooperation, a coalition of conservatives and liberals are trying to close two important loopholes. First, the U.S. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 requires that all nuclear materials and equipment exported have appropriate safeguards against military use. However, the U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement only calls for "diplomatic channels to establish mutually acceptable arrangements for exchange of information and visits..." Second, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act requires U.S. approval for the separation of plutonium from spent fuel derived from U.S. exports. The U.S.-China Agreement provides no enforceable rights to the U.S., and only requires an agreement to discuss Chinese plans for reprocessing materials. Senator John Glenn introduces legislation to require China to abide by safeguards consistent with IAEA standards before exporting nuclear materials and technology, and to require China to obtain U.S. consent before extracting plutonium from spent fuel, or using U.S. supplied reactors to produce plutonium.
— Joseph Clifford, "Nuclear Issue: Time Bomb in US-China Relations," Christian Science Monitor, 9 October 1985, p. 14, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; George Moffett III, "Closing Loopholes in US-China Nuclear Pact," Christian Science Monitor, 9 October 1985, p. 4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
21 October 1985
Senate Democratic Whip Alan Cranston asserts that China is exporting nuclear technology to Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, South Africa, and Iran, the five countries with "the most dangerous nuclear programs." "My information is that China has either engaged in serious nuclear trade negotiations with or actually has continued a series of nuclear export to each and every one of these five 'nuclear outlaw' nations." Congressional sources say that individuals in the Pentagon opposed to the U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement gave the Senator the intelligence information. Cranston also accuses State Department official Richard Kennedy of systematically withholding, suppressing, and covering up information about the Chinese violations. State Department spokesperson Charles Redman responds by stating, "The department has taken every appropriate step to keep the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee currently, accurately and fully informed on nonproliferation issues."
— Bernard Gwertzman, "Cranston Assails U.S.-China Accord," New York Times, 22 October 1985, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
24 October 1985
Responding to Senator Cranston's accusations that China had been exporting nuclear technology to five "nuclear outlaw" nations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry denies that it had offered nuclear assistance to Iran and South Africa and asserts that any nuclear cooperation with Brazil and Pakistan has been peaceful.
— AP, "China Denies Atom Aid to Iran and South Africa," New York Times, 25 October 1985, p. A7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 November 1985
Senate and House Committees vote to approve the U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement after imposing greater restrictions. Under the current legislation, the President must certify to Congress that he has "additional information" from Beijing that China is not helping other countries acquire nuclear weapons before nuclear material and equipment can be provided to China.
— AP, "Panels Restrict China Atom Pact," New York Times, 14 November 1985, p. A3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
21 November 1985
The Senate adopts a resolution to approve the U.S-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
— AP, 'China Nuclear Accord Approved By the Senate," New York Times, 22 November 1985, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 December 1985
The House adopts a resolution endorsing the U.S-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement by a vote of 307 to 112.
— "House Joins Senate on Pact Permitting A-Sales to China," Christian Science Monitor, 13 December 1985, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 December 1985
China concludes an accord with France agreeing in principle to buy two 900-megawatt nuclear reactors from the French firm Framatome at a cost of at least $1.3 billion. China also agrees in principle to purchase turbine generators from the General Electric Corporation of Britain. The equipment will be used in China's first nuclear power plant, currently being built in Daya Bay in Guangdong province.
— UPI, "China Agrees to Buy French and British Gear," New York Times, 16 December 1985, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 December 1985
A proposal to add restrictions on the sale of American nuclear technology to China is dropped from an appropriations bills due to pressure from the White House. Senator John Glenn (D-OH) had introduced the amendment to tighten the nuclear nonproliferation safeguards on the U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, and require the President to certify that China was abiding by IAEA safeguards.
— AP, "U.S. Panel Drops Limits on China Nuclear Pact," New York Times, 17 December 1985, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Julian Baum, "China's Nuclear Power Industry Gets Fresh Fuel from US, France," Christian Science Monitor, 18 December 1985, p. 9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
22 December 1985
Several hundred students from the Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region hold a march in Beijing protesting atmospheric nuclear tests conducted at the Lop Nur Nuclear Testing Site over the last twenty years. The students, mostly Turkish-speaking Muslims from Xinjiang, came from the Institute of Cultural Minorities. This appears to be the first public anti-nuclear protest in China.
— John Burns, "Students in Peking Protest Atom Arms Tests," New York Times, 24 December 1985, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Julian Baum, "Minority Students Stage Peking's First Antinuclear Demonstration," Christian Science Monitor, 24 December 1985, p. 9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
23 December 1985
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issues a response to the anti-nuclear protest on 22 December. "In the present international situation, it is necessary to conduct a small number of nuclear tests to safeguard China's security. This is endorsed and supported by the great masses of the Chinese people."
— Julian Baum, "Minority Students Stage Peking's First Antinuclear Demonstration," Christian Science Monitor, 24 December 1985, p. 9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
30 December 1985
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhu Qizhen and U.S. Ambassador Winston Lord exchange diplomatic notes formally putting the U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement into effect.
— "China, US Implement Pact on Nuclear Cooperation," Christian Science Monitor, 31 December 1985, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
3 January 1986
China agrees to purchase turbine generators for the Daya Bay nuclear power plant from the General Electric Company of Britain for $362 million.
— "GEC, China Agree to Price for Nuclear Plant's Turbines," Wall Street Journal, 3 January 1986, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 February 1986
U.S. envoy Edward Rowny meets with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Qian Qichen to discuss the American response to a proposal by Mikhail Gorbachev to eliminate all nuclear weapons by 2000.
— AP, "U.S. Consults China on Reply to Soviet Disarmament Plan," New York Times, 9 February 1986, p. 15, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
4 March 1986
According to the German firm Kraftwerk Union AG, China has dropped plans to purchase two nuclear power plants after months of bidding. China appears not to have enough foreign currency and capital reserves to finance the project.
— Peter Gumbel, "Peking Drops Plans to Purchase Nuclear Plants, Siemens Unit Says," Wall Street Journal, 4 March 1986.
21 March 1986
Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang proposes that "as the countries having the largest nuclear weapons stockpiles, the United States and the USSR should take the lead in halting the testing, production, and deployment of all types of nuclear weapons, and they should make tremendous reductions and destroy locally all types of nuclear weapons anywhere in their own countries or abroad. This would create positive conditions for the possible convening of a broadly representative international arms reduction conference of all nuclear countries for the purpose of further discussion and agreement on steps for nuclear arms reduction and total destruction of nuclear weapons." This statement reflects a return to China's 1979 position, calling for substantial reductions as opposed to reductions of 50 percent. This reportedly remains China's requirement to enter into multilateral nuclear arms control discussions.
— J. Mohan Malik, "China's Policy Towards Nuclear Arms Control In The Post-Cold War Era," Contemporary Security Policy, August 1995, p. 5; Liu Huaqiu, "Analysis of Nuclear Arms Control Policy," Xiandai Junshi (Conmilit), 11 November 1995, in FBIS-CHI-95-246.
2 April 1986
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denies reports that China and the U.S. have been discussing possible cooperation on performing seismic monitoring of Soviet underground nuclear tests.
— "China Denies it Might Join US in Soviet A-Test Vigil," Christian Science Monitor, 3 April 1986, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
3 April 1986
Vice-Premier Li Peng announces that Chinese officials have discussed nuclear power cooperation with Soviet officials and that a delegation will go to the Soviet Union to research nuclear power stations.
— Reuters, "Chinese Aides to Study Soviet Nuclear Plants," New York Times, 4 April 1986, p. A2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "China Says It's Discussing A-Power Pact with Soviets," Christian Science Monitor, 4 April 1986, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 July 1986
Legislators in Hong Kong begin debating the Chinese Daya Bay nuclear power plant project. Under a 1983 agreement, Hong Kong will help finance the project and agree to purchase 70 percent of the energy produced. A coalition of more than 100 unions, professional groups, and associations have gathered 700,000 names in a signature drive protesting the project. According to opponents, the proposed location just fifty miles from Hong Kong is too close. In the aftermath of the April Chernobyl disaster, opponents hope to convince Beijing to either move the facility further away, or to use conventional fuel to fire the facility.
— Patrick Smith, "China Gets Hong Kong Flak Over Nuclear Plant," Christian Science Monitor, 17 July 1986, p. 12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
17 July 1986
China issues safety regulations for the location, design and operation of nuclear power plants and promises severe punishments for officials breaking the rules.
— "China Issues Regulations for Safe Nuclear Plants," Christian Science Monitor, 18 July 1986, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
23 September 1986
Chinese Vice-Premier Li Peng observes the signing of contracts and loan agreements for the Daya Bay nuclear power plant project. A consortium of European banks will provide financing for the $3.5 billion project. The French firm Framamtome will supply two pressurized 900-megawatt water reactors while Electricite de France will design the plant. General Electric Company of Britain will supply two 985,000-kilowatt turbine generators.
— Julian Baum, "China OKs A-Plant Near Hong Kong," Christian Science Monitor, 24 September 1986, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "China Signs British Loan to Finance Nuclear Plant," Wall Street Journal, 25 September 1986, p. 49, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
30 September 1986
Chinese Defense Minister Zhang Aiping announces that U.S. naval vessels will visit Qingdao as early as October. He states that an agreement has been reached between the U.S. and China on the question of the visiting vessels are nuclear-armed, but gave no details. China has a policy of not permitting visits by foreign ships armed with nuclear weapons, while the United States has a policy of not confirming which ships are nuclear-armed.
— AP, "U.S. Warships to Visit China for First Time," New York Times, 1 October 1986, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Warships to Pay Call on China, US Confirms," Christian Science Monitor, 2 October 1986, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
9 October 1986
During his visit to China, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger announces in Beijing that a destroyer, a cruiser and a frigate from the U.S. Navy will visit Qingdao November 5-11. This will mark the first visit by American warships to China since 1949.
— "3 U.S. Navy Ships to Visit a Chinese Port," New York Times, 10 October 1986, p. A7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5-11 November 1986
The USS Reeves, the USS Oldendorf and the USS Rentz make port calls at the Chinese port of Qingdao.
— Julian Baum, "Washington's Patience Pays Off; US Ships Call at Chinese Port," Christian Science Monitor, 5 November 1986, p. 10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
23 March 1987
At the UN Regional Conference on the World Disarmament Campaign in Beijing, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Qian Qichen stated: "China has consistently opposed the arms race and will never take part in it. We stand for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all nuclear, chemical, biological, and space weapons and for a drastic reduction of conventional weapons. As early as 1964, China declared explicitly on the very first day when it came into possession of nuclear weapons that at no time and under no circumstances will it be the first to use nuclear weapons. China has also undertaken not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states or nuclear-free zones." "China does not advocate or encourage nuclear proliferation, nor does it help other countries develop nuclear weapons. China supports whatever actions and initiatives that are conducive to the realization of disarmament and elimination of the threat of nuclear war."
— Beijing Review, 30 March 1987, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.
3 April 1987
According to a budget document for the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency, the United States is using seismic monitoring devices, originally intended to predict earthquakes, to improve the estimates of the size of Soviet underground nuclear tests. One monitoring station is located at Urumchi in the Chinese Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, just 600 miles from the Soviet test site in Semipalatinsk.
— Michael Gordon, "China Helping U.S. on Soviet A-Tests," The New York Times, 4 April 1987, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 June 1987
China conducts its 33rd nuclear test, an underground explosion with an unknown yield.
— 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>.
6 December 1987
Commenting on the upcoming visit by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to the United States, the Xinhua News Agency discounts any agreement that might emerge between the two superpowers on limiting nuclear weapons, as these agreements "served either to help consolidate their nuclear monopoly or just to lay down certain regulations for their nuclear arms race." The U.S. and Soviet Union are expected to sign a treaty banning medium and short range missiles from Europe (INF Treaty).
— Reuters, "China Has Pessimistic View of Summit Impact on Arms," New York Times, 7 December 1987, p. A20, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 December 1987
In response to the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by the U.S. and USSR, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Li Jinhua states that China welcomes the signing as a first step toward nuclear disarmament, but expects both countries to continue talks that will lead to greater cuts in nuclear weapons. An editorial in the official Communist Party newspaper People's Daily notes, "The signing of the INF agreement is far from reducing the risk of nuclear war and cannot fundamentally reduce international tensions."
— Edward Gargan, "The Summit; From Chinese, Tempered Praise," New York Times, 10 December 1987, p. A20, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
1988
China proposes the "Three Halts and One Reduction" formula for nuclear disarmament. In this position, China proposes that the United States and the USSR should: (1) agree not to test, produce, or deploy such weapons ("three halts"); and (2) reduce their nuclear weapons well below levels currently being discussed ("one reduction").
— J. Mohan Malik, "China's Policy Towards Nuclear Arms Control In The Post-Cold War Era," Contemporary Security Policy, August 1995, p. 6.
1988
China ratifies protocols 2 and 3 of the Treaty of Rarotonga, which issues specific legally-binding NSAs to the signatories of the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
— Yan Xuetong, Xiandai Guoji Guanxi (Beijing), 20 August 1995, pp. 23-38; Reuters (Beijing), 8 February 1995; in Executive News Service, 8 February 1995; Walter C. Clemens, Jr., "China," in Richard Dean Burns, ed., Encyclopedia of Arms Control and Disarmament, vol. 1, p. 62.
7 January 1988
A PLA officer tells Chinese journalists that the Chinese strategic missile force has developed a nuclear counterattack capability. "After many test firings it is now certain that China already has reliable nuclear counterattack potential."
— Reuters, "China Claims Nuclear Counterattack Power," New York Times, 10 January 1988, p. 11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
31 May 1988
During a speech before the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen states that China welcomes the signing of the INF treaty, but that even with 50% reductions by both the U.S. and the USSR, the superpowers would still hold 90% of the world's strategic arsenal of nuclear weapons. "The danger of war has not been eliminated and the task for disarmament remains arduous."
— James Tyson, "China Sees Summit As Boost to Mid-Level Powers," Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 1988, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
17 September 1988
Responding to an announcement the previous day by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev calling for full normalization of ties with China, Chinese Premier Li Peng states, "We would like very much to normalize our relations with the Soviet Union." However, Li discounts the possibility of returning to an alliance with the USSR. He reiterates China's demand that Moscow discontinue support for the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia as a condition for holding a summit meeting.
— Ann Scott Tyson, "China Lukewarm on Soviet Bid for Better Ties," Christian Science Monitor, 19 September 1988, p. 7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
20 September 1988
Zhou Ping, head of the Chinese delegation to the annual conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, signs an agreement with the IAEA to open up China's non-military nuclear facilities to international inspection.
— "China to Allow Inspectors to Check its Nuclear Plants," Christian Science Monitor, 21 September 1988, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
29 September 1988
China conducts its 34th nuclear test, reported to be a 1-5 kT enhanced radiation weapon ("neutron bomb"). This bomb was reportedly constructed with data stolen from the U.S. government's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
— Michael Wines, "Chinese Atom-Arms Spying in U.S. Reported," New York Times, 22 November 1990, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
Late 1988
Richard Kennedy, U.S. State Department special ambassador on nonproliferation, receives a report detailing Chinese-Algerian nuclear cooperation, including the text of the contract. China has agreed to help Algeria build a nuclear reactor. The information is not passed on to other members of the State Department or the Pentagon.
— Elaine Sciolino with Eric Schmitt, "Algerian Reactor Came From China," New York Times, 15 November 1991, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
1989
China presents a working paper to the United Nations, outlining three principles on nuclear disarmament: (1) "the United States and the Soviet Union must take the lead in halting the testing, production and deployment of all types of nuclear weapons, and drastically reduce their nuclear arsenals;" (2) "vigorous measures must be taken to avert an arms race in outer space, check new tendencies in the arms race such as qualitative improvements in weapons, and the extension of weapons technology to new fields;" and (3) "no bilateral agreements on disarmament should jeopardize the interests of other states."
— J. Mohan Malik, "China's Policy Towards Nuclear Arms Control In The Post-Cold War Era," Contemporary Security Policy, August 1995, p. 6.
16 May 1989
Fang Yushu, vice-director of Liaoning province's office of administration, announces that the Soviet Union will help construct a 2,000 megawatt pressurized water reactor at Jinzhou in the early 1990s. The Soviet Union was successful in winning this bid to build a nuclear reactor because it is willing to accept barter trade in goods instead of hard currency.
— James Tyson, "Moscow Beats Out West in Chinese Nuclear Deal," Christian Science Monitor, 17 May 1989, p. 3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
May 1989
The Commerce Department withdraws an export license for $500 million in nuclear power plant parts to China after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Senator John Glenn sent letters protesting the sale. Glenn argues that the shipment violates a 1985 Congressional resolution that requires the President to certify that China is not helping other nations build nuclear weapons.
— AP, "License Lost for China Sale," New York Times, 13 June 1989, p. D11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
5 August 1989
China Daily reports that 20 people have been killed and over 1,200 injured in accidents involving the handling of radioactive materials between 1980 and 1985. None of the casualties were directly attributed to the operation of nuclear reactors.
— "China Lists 20 Deaths in Nuclear Accidents," New York Times, 6 August 1989, p. 12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
15 September 1989
In an article in Renmin Ribao, Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen states: "Our country has resolutely opposed every kind of armaments race and advocated overall prohibition and complete destruction of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons, and outer space weapons, as well as large-scale reductions of regular weapons and military personnel. Our country thinks that both the United States and Soviet Union, possessing the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and regular weapons in the world, have special responsibility in disarmament; they should play an exemplary role in stopping testing, producing, and deploying every kind of nuclear weapons, greatly reduce their storage on nuclear weapons, and cut their regular weapons on a large scale..." "China does not advocate, or encourage, or engage in nuclear proliferation and would only cooperate with other countries in the peaceful application of nuclear energy."
— Renmin Ribao, 15 September 1989; in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.
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.
