[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 135 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12368-S12369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, on Thursday, August 10, the distinguished 
Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Akaka, offered an amendment--number 2406--to 
the fiscal year 1996 Defense appropriations bill expressing concern 
regarding France's decision to conduct further nuclear tests in the 
South Pacific, and strongly encouraging France to abide by the current 
international moratorium on nuclear testing and to refrain from 
proceeding with its announced testing intentions. As a cosponsor of the 
similar freestanding resolution the Senator from Hawaii had earlier 
introduced, it was my intention to speak in favor of the amendment. But 
in their energetic efforts to expedite Senate action on this 
legislation, the managers of the bill quickly indicated their approval 
of the amendment, and it was approved by a voice vote before I was able 
to speak.
  Even though I cannot speak prior to the Senate's favorable action on 
this amendment, I nonetheless would like to provide my endorsement of 
this amendment and to explain my reasons for supporting it.
  In May of this year the world took an important step toward stopping 
the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing the future threat from these 
weapons, when the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was indefinitely 
extended.
  The next step will be negotiation and ratification of a Comprehensive 
Test Ban Treaty to finally and permanently end all nuclear testing. 
When we reach this goal, the world will breathe a collective sigh of 
relief as the era of nuclear explosions becomes part of history.
  I hope and believe that we can complete such a treaty by the end of 
next year.
  Unfortunately, the recent French decision to resume their nuclear 
testing program with eight explosions in the South Pacific flies in the 
face of the world's nonproliferation efforts. The French decision, 
coupled with the continued Chinese testing program, makes it extremely 
difficult to convince non-nuclear states of the sincerity of promises 
by the nuclear powers to end testing and reduce stockpiles.
  The Chinese demonstrated the height of arrogance by detonating a 
nuclear explosion four days after the Non-Proliferation Treaty was 
indefinitely extended. Now the French have decided to abandon the self-
imposed testing moratorium to which they, Russia, the United States, 
and Great Britain have adhered since 1992. This is a huge mistake.
  The French argue that they need these eight tests to guarantee the 
safety and reliability of their deterrent forces. These are the same 
arguments always used to justify continued testing. The idea that 
without testing reliability will decrease enough to affect deterrence 
is absolutely absurd.
  Warhead designs for the nuclear powers are proven and reliable and no 
nation would dare to test that reliability in a way that would risk 
nuclear retaliation. Deterrence will not be undermined by the absence 
of testing.
  If this argument had merit we would not need to worry about North 
Korea, Pakistan, or India possessing nuclear weapons because they have 
never had a test program. Obviously the horror of nuclear weapons and 
the fear of their use is enough deterrence. It is not necessary to 
constantly test in order to engender that fear.
  The question of safety is an important one but relying on this 
rationale means a nuclear state can never stop testing. There will 
always be some level of uncertainty, some new safety measure or some 
new technology that the weapons builders would like to incorporate.
  In reality the current level of stockpile safety is adequate even 
though the United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia have 
refrained from testing since 1992. If continued safety requires 
computer simulation, then we should complete the development of such 
programs.
  But the 2,000 tests conducted by the five nuclear powers, including 
more than 200 by the French, provide a more than adequate empirical 
data base to move this technology forward. If the French need 
additional data, as they claim, or other assistance in developing their 
own stockpile stewardship program, then the United States should offer 
that assistance.
  This is no excuse for continuing nuclear testing.
  It is all too easy to rationalize additional tests or different types 
of tests, such as the hydronuclear tests proposed by some here in the 
United States, as necessary for reliability or safety. In doing this we 
focus to narrowly on technical questions and miss the larger point that 
as long as the nuclear powers insist on continuing their programs the 
nuclear specter will hang over the world, and other nations will feel 
compelled to pursue development of their own weapons.
  It is disingenuous for the nuclear powers to say to the rest of the 
world 

[[Page S 12369]]
that after more than 2,000 tests over 40 years, we are finally going to 
negotiate a comprehensive test ban and then immediately begin more 
tests.
  The real threat facing the world is not the lack of safety and 
reliability of nuclear stockpiles, it is the threat of the continued 
spread of nuclear weapons.
  The French decision is a mistake for other reasons as well. The eight 
proposed tests will take place in the colony of French Polynesia far 
from the French homeland and without any regard for the feelings of the 
residents or the neighboring states. Australia, New Zealand, and 
nations all around Pacific Rim have condemned the decision.
  Earlier this month, 2 days before the 50th anniversary of the bombing 
of Hiroshima, the Japanese Diet joined other Pacific nations in calling 
for France to stop the testing.
  Studies repeatedly have detected contamination from the test site 
despite French claims to the contrary. Radioactive iodine, cesium 134, 
and plutonium all have leaked from the lagoon at the test site.
  By ignoring the concerns of the natives and neighbors, France invokes 
the memory of the worst of the colonial period. The people of this 
region do not want their backyard used as nuclear test bed and waste 
dump.
  The amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from Hawaii 
reflects the concerns of the citizens of his State, but also reflects 
the concerns of many others. I supported his amendment, and am pleased 
the Senate acted to add it to the Defense appropriations bill.


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