China explodes N test device

China, this fortnight, detonated its biggest nuclear test ever. The explosion, about 70 times as powerful as the one at Hiroshima, is seen as a sign of China's nuclear prowess. And also as a slight to the US which has been putting India under the cloud for its missile programme. The explosion was set off just two weeks before the June 4 deadline by which President George Bush must announce his decision on renewing China's most-favoured-nation trading status with the US. Obviously, China is sending out signals that it couldn't care less.