The Nuclear Arsenals of France, Great Britain and China

The Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the crucial international instrument limiting the spread and mandating the reduction of nuclear armaments. In force since 1970, it has now attracted nearly 140 adherents. During that time no material breaches have been recorded and no intentions to withdraw have been announced. It is a highly unequal Treaty in that it prohibits the possession of nuclear weapons by an overwhelming majority of states, while tolerating the possession of these same weapons by a handful of nations: the nuclear-weapon powers. Three of these have signed the Treaty: the United States, the Soviet Union and Great Britain. France has a declared policy of behaving like a state party to it. China has given assurances that it would not help other states to acquire nuclear weapons. Under the Treaty the nuclear weapons powers have undertaken to pursue negotiations in good faith to halt the nuclear arms race and to bring about nuclear disarmament.