From: World Tibet Network News, Monday, August 21, 1995

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) -- China's nuclear test on Thursday, though regrettable, will not affect a decision on Hillary Rodham Clinton attending an international women's conference in Beijing, U.S. officials said.

"The United States deeply regrets this action," President Clinton said of the underground test conducted at Lop Nor in northwest China.

However, deputy White House press secretary Ginny Terzano said a number of delicate issues are being weighed in the decision on Mrs. Clinton's trip and the blast "will not have an impact on that decision-making process."

Mrs. Clinton is the honorary chairman of the U.S. delegation to the women's conference next month and she is known to be eager to attend.

In addition to the nuclear-test matter, China's human rights record and its detention of activist Harry Wu on spy charges have become obstacles to such a trip. Wu, a naturalized American citizen, has been held since June 19.

In a related development, the Chinese government is refusing to issue visas to some women from non-governmental organizations who hope to attend a "parallel conference" outside Beijing, members of the groups allege.

Some women, particularly those representing Tibetan groups that China considers hostile, have been refused visas outright, The Washington Post reported in Friday's editions. Many others wishing to attend the NGO Forum on Women are battling bureaucratic obstacles and delays in the visa process.

However, the United Nations, which is holding the official Fourth World Conference on Women in the Chinese capital, attributed the organizations' visa problems to paperwork overload instead of political motives by Beijing.

Already committed to going to the conference with the U.S. delegation is Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Delegates plan to take stands on problems women confront around the world on health, education and human rights.

Clinton, in a statement issued from his Wyoming vacation retreat, noted that China and all of the other nuclear weapons states agreed last May to exercise `utmost restraint' in nuclear testing while waiting for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to be negotiated.

"We urge China to refrain from further nuclear tests and to join in a global moratorium as we work to complete and sign" a treaty in 1996, Clinton said.

He said last week that the United States does not intend to test nuclear weapons while the comprehensive treaty is being negotiated.

Briefing reporters in Wyoming, Terzano said the United States is dealing with the situation diplomatically and is "moving forward in our discussions with the Chinese."

"We regret the test and we have serious concerns about it," she said.

She called the Chinese test well prepared and "not unexpected by the United States."

In Washington, acting State Department spokesman David Johnson said concern was being conveyed to Chinese leaders. In any case, Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff will be visiting there next week and that is one of the subjects he will bring up.