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France Ends Nuclear Testing

Last week French President Jacques Chirac announced that France had completed the last of its underwater nuclear-test explosions in the South Pacific (see TFK, 9/15/95).

The news came as a relief to islanders who live in that region. Many feared that nuclear radiation from the tests would leak into the sea and damage the environment. For this reason, France's tests were protested around the world.

Eight tests were originally planned to try out a new weapon for French submarines. Under pressure from other nations, Chirac later reduced the number to six tests. Now, he says, he has enough results to halt the testing.

On the first official visit to the U.S. by a French President in 12 years, Chirac promised Congress that the nuclear testing was finished "once and for all."

France's announcement means that China is now the only country exploding nuclear weapons in tests.

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