1974 N-test for peaceful purposes nonsense: Chinese diplomat

NEW DELHI: The Indian government's assertions that its first nuclear explosion in 1974 was for peaceful purposes was described by Chinese diplomats as "nonsense" and that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had "inherited the hypocrisy" of her father Jawaharlal Nehru.

Peking also had a grouse that it was not informed about the tests by Indians.

The latest round of disclosures of US diplomatic cables by Wikileaks show that Peking had commented briefly on the Indian tests as the Pokhran explosion did not affect China and was not viewed as a "particularly important event".

"It would, however, delay and complicate improvement of relations among South Asian countries," Second Secretary Li Ta-Nan had told a US embassy official on May 29, 1974, 11 days after the nuclear test.

Li noted that Foreign Secretary (East) Trivedi was briefing Asian and African diplomats in Delhi on the test.

"But the Indians had said nothing to the Chinese here about it. Li voiced suspicion that the Soviets knew of the test in advance and may have aided the Indians in preparing it.

"But he admitted he had no evidence of this. He said Indian talk about peaceful uses was nonsense. Mrs Gandhi had inherited the hypocrisy of her father," the cable quoted Li as saying.

In a cable from the US mission in Argentina, Ambassador Hill the Chinese Ambassador Ching Wei-Chih commented that China was "not surprised" by the Indian tests and that neither US or USSR should have been surprised since it was they who had helped India gain nuclear capability.

"Ambassador Hill indicated this was not the case and subsequently sent to Ambassador Ching Wei-Chih some clippings from the US Press which put the genesis of the Indian nuclear blast in perspective," the cable said.

When Ambassador Hill inquired as to the status of Chou-en-Lai, the Chinese Ambassador dismissed the latter as a "sick old man".

"Ambassador Hill refrained from noting that Chou no older and probably no sicker than Mao," it said.