BOMB FOR CHINA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 21

BOMB FOR CHINA

Production Planned (NJZJPA.-Keuter-Copyright) TOKYO, October 28. China's Foreign Minister (Mr Chen Yi) was quoted today as saying it would be “several years” before his country could test an atomic

bomb. The Kyodo News Service said Mr Chen made Ibis statement in Peking to visiting Japanese reporters.

Mr Chen reportedly said tat the delay in testing was due to the backward state of China’s industrial base and that it would be some time before it could mass-produce atomic weapons.

Mr Chen noted that toe Russians had taunted China on wanting to produce expensive nuclear weapons when it did not have enough trousers for its people. “Even if China has to go without trousers, it must have modern weapons,” he said.

But he emphasised tat the Chinese Government had every intention of acquiring nuclear power, because without it China would remain a second or third-class nation.

He said China was close to solving toe problems of atomic weapon production. China’s objective was to be equipped with atom bombs, missiles, and supersonic weapons “within a few years,” he said.