"On This Date in Cryptologic History" Calendar
1964: People's Republic of China Detonated First Nuclear Weapon
16 October 1964: People's Republic of China detonated its first nuclear weapon. On the same day, the Chinese government made a solemn promise to the world that it developed nuclear weapons only for the purpose of self-defense and safeguarding national security. China would never at any time or under any circumstances be the first to use nuclear weapons.