oss EasternEurope. These reforms have greatly reduced tensions.The country of China still wants to test their nuclear explosions formining and for some construction. For two years China has successfully held upthe 38-nation Geneva negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty. No othernation has been supportive to the Chinese. They find their reason as a lameexcuse to start setting off explosions again. The treaty plays a very importantrole in creating a barrier to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The twobiggest problems are with nuclear weapons nowadays is that testing isntnecessary to develop a workable, Hiroshima-type fission bomb in this age ofcomputers and wide spread access to nuclear data, and India nor Pakistan, thetwo most worrisome nuclear powers is likely to sign any deal at all.The United States, Great Britain, Russia, and France have joined amoratorium on all testing. Only China continues to develop lightweight,multiple warheads that could be deployed on submarine based missiles. Claimingdiscrimination, India insists it will not accede to a test ban unless thedeclared nuclear states agree to give up their nuclear arsenals by a certaindate. Pakistan also says if India does not sign, they wont either. Onefrequently mentioned scenario is for India to conduct a quick series of tests todevelop a thermonuclear weapon and only then give in to international pressureto sign the treaty.The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty if eventually agreed to, might not beso comprehensive after all. Meeting in Geneva the 61 nation conference onDisarmament again failed to produce an agreed treaty before breaking up. Negotiators will return again to produce another final effort for a test bantreaty in 1996.After 18 months of talks, the proposed treaty text bans all nucleartests, no matter the size or purpose. Still unresolved is whether ratificationby the three nuclear powers of India, Pakistan, and Israel should be requiredbefore the...
