6/8 China's Test Undermines Nuke Test Ban Talks

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

----------
Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-TO:   The.Greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org
----------
CHINA'S TEST UNDERMINES NUCLEAR TEST BAN TALKS
 
Press Release-8 June 1996, (Hong Kong) (GP) Greenpeace condemned
today's 20-80 kiloton Chinese nuclear weapons test and called on
world leaders to protest the action and demand that China show
the utmost restraint while negotiating a Comprehensive nuclear
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
 
The environmental group said that its ship, the MV Greenpeace,
would sail today from Manila to continue its peaceful voyage to
Shanghai to deliver a message to China of worldwide opposition
to nuclear testing and nuclear weapons.  The ship should arrive
off China around 11 June.
 
"This nuclear test is deplorable, particularly as it occurs at
such a sensitive time in the test ban negotiation," said Damon
Moglen, a Greenpeace International spokesman.
 
"China is not only jeopardising the CTBT and impending progress
on nuclear disarmament, it is now the only nuclear weapons state
with an active testing program.  International public opinion
should condemn China's tests as strongly as it did those of
France."
 
News of the test was broken by the Australian Geological Survey
Organisation in Canberra, Australia.  From its seismic
monitoring stations, scientists reported that a presumed Chinese
test at Lop Nor took place today at 1056 local time (0256 GMT)
with an estimated body-wave magnitude of 5.7.  The survey
estimates that the explosion's yield was in the range of 20 to
80 kilotons of TNT - a blast as much as five times more powerful
than the bomb which destroyed Hiroshima.
 
Today's test was China's 44th.  China is now the only nuclear
weapons state with an active testing programme.  More tests are
expected as part of China's programmed of nuclear weapons
development.
 
"This test does not deter us from sailing to Shanghai, rather it
strengthens our resolve to take our peaceful message direct to
China," said Xavier Pastor, campaigner on board the MV
Greenpeace.
 
 
NOTE TO EDITORS : Background paper on China's nuclear testing
program available  
For further information please contact Greenpeace International

in Hong Kong. Xavier Pastor may be contacted on the MV
Greenpeace on +872 130 0310.  This is a satellite link which
costs US$10 per minute.
 
ENDS
 
For Further Information, please contact:
 
Greenpeace International  in Hong Kong
 
DAMON MOGLEN or CLEMENT LAM HAU-KEEN
 
Tel : (852) 2745 6914 or 2745 6017
Fax : (852) 2745 2426
 

----------