NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY

Created: 7/8/1993

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CHINA: Response on Moratorium Noncommittal

Beijing has reacted to Washington's announcement of amoratorium by reiterating lhat iluclear testthe framework of the complete prohibition and destructionChinese did not.

however, indicate whether they *ould observe the moratorium.

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Comment: Chinese officials may have been surprised, but Beijing's response is consistent wilh its previous statements thai China, as the country with the smallesi and least advanced nuclear force, still needs nuclear tests. Although differing views may exist, the consensus in Beijing probably remains that China should continue testing unless unexpected international repercussions develop. China has planned seven nuclear tcsis. including testing for new SLBM and ICBM

warheads,he suggested deadline for sign the Comprehensive Ten Ban Treaty.

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