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WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - China may have secretly set off low-level underground nuclear test explosions despite claiming to observe an international pact banning such blasts, the U.S. State Department said in a report on Wednesday that could fuel U.S.-Chinese tensions.
Reuters: U.S. concerns about Beijing& #39;s possible breaches of a "zero yield" standard for test blasts have been prompted by activities at China& #39;s Lop Nur nuclear test site throughout 2019, the State Department report said.
Reuters: Zero yield refers to a nuclear test in which there is no explosive chain reaction of the type ignited by the detonation of a nuclear warhead.
Reuters: “China& #39;s possible preparation to operate its Lop Nur test site year-round, its use of explosive containment chambers, extensive excavation activities at Lop Nur and a lack of transparency on its nuclear testing activities ...”
Reuters: “...raise concerns regarding its adherence to the zero yield standard," the report said, without providing evidence of a low-yield test.
Reuters: Beijing& #39;s lack of transparency included blocking data transmissions from sensors linked to a monitoring center operated by the international agency that verifies compliance with a treaty banning nuclear test explosions.
Reuters: A spokeswoman for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization told WSJ there had been no interruptions in data transmissions from China& #39;s five sensor stations since the end of August 2019 following an interruption that began in 2018.
Reuters: A senior U.S. official said the concerns about China& #39;s testing activities buttressed President Donald Trump& #39;s case for getting China to join the United States and Russia in talks on an arms control accord to replace the 2010 New START treaty between Washington and Moscow
Reuters: China, estimated to have about 300 nuclear weapons, has repeatedly rejected Trump& #39;s proposal, arguing its nuclear force is defensive and poses no threat.
