Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.4, 2015

 

The US Policy on Prevention of Nuclear Proliferation and Negotiations among the US, Britain and the Soviet Union on Banning Nuclear Weapons Testing

(Abstract)

 

Liu Zikui

 

The Eisenhower government took part in negotiations with Britain and the Soviet Union on banning the testing of nuclear weapons from 1958 to 1960 in order to maintain its nuclear monopoly, prevent nuclear proliferation, and respond to the worldwide anti-nuclear movement. The US tied the issue of preventing the emergence of a “Fourth Country” to its anti-Soviet foreign policy principles, taking advantage of the nuclear test ban treaty to block the “Fourth Country” while maintaining its cold war strategy and technological advantage over the Soviet Union. Despite a mutual lack of trust, the three countries’ concern over the proliferation of nuclear weapons to a “Fourth” or more countries made them do not suspend negotiations. However, the negotiations were ultimately fruitless, as the U-2 spy plane incident increased distrust between the US and the Soviet Union. At the same time, the US adopted an optional nonproliferation policy by providing technical assistance to France and preparing to share the nuclear deterrent with all the NATO countries of Europe. After the time when nuclear nonproliferation was aligned with the political and military interests of the US, Britain and the Soviet Union, the issue of blocking a “Fourth Country” was gradually abandoned and eventually replaced by the optional nonproliferation policy. Nuclear proliferation thus became inevitable.