BEIJING (PTI): The Chinese foreign ministry May 22 confirmed that an underground nuclear test was conducted in Xinjiang region north of India but rejected an expression of regret by the U.S. state department The 1000-kilotonne device was reported to have been exploded on May 21.
China had exercised restraint and the number of tests it was conducted is very limited and the smallest among the five nuclear powers a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement read out in response to a question.
China is in favor of complete prohibition of nuclear tests within the framework of effective nuclear disarmament and will continue to work to this end the spokesman said.
There is no reason for the U.S. to express its revert he added.
The U.S. state department was reported to have expressed its regret and concern over the Chinese nuclear test its biggest ever and called on Beijing to exercise restraint.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1992
