China denies preparing for nuclear-related test

0 Comments | Asian Political News, May 21, 2001

BEIJING, May 15 Kyodo

China on Tuesday denied a U.S. newspaper report that it is preparing for an underground nuclear weapons test at its Lop Nur testing facility in the western province of Xinjiang.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told a press conference that the report in last Friday's edition of the Washington Times is ''groundless and irresponsible.''

China, he said, has signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, submitted it to the National People's Congress and intends to strictly abide by it after ratification.

The Washington Times report, citing U.S. intelligence officials, said a small nuclear test or a ''subcritical'' nuclear test -- a small explosion designed to simulate a nuclear blast -- could be carried out in the next several days.

It said vehicle activity at the test site was detected by U.S. spy satellites the previous week.

The last Chinese nuclear-related test took place in 1999.