China Nuclear Weapons Subcritical Testing
There are different names for subcritical nuclear tests in the world. Russia calls it "non-nuclear explosion test", and the United States calls it "hydrodynamic test". Nuclear testing is a necessary step to verify the performance of nuclear weapons and conduct research on new nuclear weapons. Under such circumstances, subcritical nuclear tests are favored by nuclear powers. In subcritical nuclear tests, weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium can be used in small amounts. Since no critical mass is formed during the test, no chain reaction occurs on the nuclear material, so no nuclear energy is released and no real nuclear explosion occurs. Technical experts believe that the biggest benefit of subcritical tests is to ensure ecological safety. To conduct subcritical nuclear tests requires very advanced computer technology. Currently, except for the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France have mastered this technology.
The subcritical test allows scientists to study the plutonium under conditions similar to what it would experience in a weapon’s primary. By measuring, for example, the velocity of the shell as a function of time, one can infer the force imparted to the shell by the shock wave, or alternatively gain insight into plutonium hydrodynamics. As to whether another material could be studied instead, many felt the answer is no.
A US State Department report suggested that China may be conducting nuclear tests, although Beijing has said it is adhering to a moratorium on nuclear test explosions. The Department on 15 April 2020 released the summary of its report on compliance with agreements on nuclear weapons. It said China maintained a high level of activity [at 41°41'57"N 88°21'56"E / 41.699351, 88.365775] at the Lop Nur nuclear test site in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region throughout 2019, including extensive excavation. The summary said there is a lack of transparency about China's nuclear testing activities, and it frequently blocks transmissions of monitoring data to the Vienna-based Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.
The April 2020 U.S. Department of State EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS On ADHERENCE TO AND COMPLIANCE WITH ARMS CONTROL, NON PROLIFERATION, AND DISARMAMENT AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS reported that "China maintained a high level of activity at its Lop Nur nuclear weapons test site throughout 2019. China’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 lack of transparency on its nuclear testing activities – which has included frequently blocking the flow of data from its International Monitoring System (IMS) stations to the International Data Center operated by the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization – raise concerns regarding its adherence to the “zero yield” standard adhered to by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France in their respective nuclear weapons testing moratoria."
The Wall Street Journal said the report suggested China might be secretly conducting nuclear tests with very low explosive power. The Wall Street Journal claimed that China had used special chambers to contain explosions, and that data transmissions from monitoring stations that were designed to detect radioactive emissions and seismic tremors recorded interruptions in past years, and a satellite photo taken on March 29 of Lop Nur showed cement truck activity.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on 16 April 2020 rubbished the US accusation that China may have secretly conducted nuclear tests, and a Chinese nuclear disarmament expert said the groundless accusation is a US attempt to push China into a Western countries-led nuclear treaty while also diverting domestic pressures caused by the novel coronavirus. The US' accusation is completely groundless, fictitious and not even worth refuting, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference 16 April 2020.
Zhao said that China had been among the first countries to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and China always supported the aim and purpose of the treaty, kept its promise of suspending nuclear tests, and made important contributions to the work of the treaty's Preparatory Commission. Zhao noted that the technical secretariat of the Preparatory Commission had given full affirmation to the data transmission work of observation stations in China. The US side ignored facts and made groundless speculation, and its accusation against China is irresponsible and reflects ulterior motives, Zhao said.
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