China Joins Pacific Nuclear-Free Pact but May Reconsider
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SUVA, Fiji — China on Tuesday signed protocols of a treaty declaring the South Pacific a nuclear-free zone but reserved its right to reconsider them.
China’s ambassador to Fiji, Ji Chaozhu, who signed the treaty protocols, said the area could be nuclear-free only if other big powers accepted their “special responsibility.”
Ji said China would reconsider its stand if other nuclear powers took any action that changed the status of the nuclear-free zone and endangered the security of China.
The Soviet Union has also signed the protocols. They prohibit ownership, use, stationing or testing of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste in the region but do not block passage or port calls of nuclear ships.
The United States and France have refused to sign the treaty. Britain has said that it is still studying it.
The treaty was approved by the 13-member South Pacific Forum last year.
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