The Danish newspaper "Information" on 7 May quoted Paul Beaver at "Jane's" researh centre in London as saying that China plans to construct a nuclear power development centre in Tibet and that it also plans to conduct nuclear test explotions in Tibet.

The article claims that one plan is to use small nuclear bombs to construct a canal or tunnel through a mountain range. I assume this refers to the water diversion project mentioned in the BBC's SWB FEW/0355 WG/12 on 19 October 1995. This Xinhua report states that scientists are conducting surveys for the construction of a 200 to 300 m high dam and a tunnel through the "Bayan Har" mountain range in Kyegudo and Golog prefectures with the purpose of channeling 20bn cu.m of water every year from the upper reaches of Dri Chu (Yangtze) river to Ma Chu (Yellow) river. Do anybody know more about this project and, specifically, about the use of nuclear bombs here?

Another plan announced by the Chinese is - crazy as it seems - to divert water from the Tsangpo river to the Takla Makan desert. It would need quite a few nuclear bombs to blow a canal through the Chang Thang plateau, though. But who knows?

Submitted by Anders H. Andersen -Tibet Support Committee, Denmark

anders@cybernet.dk