nart.ies- Ar- the same tirF the C.)np.,rph('c Affirl0ed the commitrrent to continue negotiations for the prevention of an arms race in that zone ' \56. ltluclear-veapon testing has played a criticaf role in the continued development and refinernenl of nlrclear veaoons and their delivery systerns. This is evidenced by the fact that since 191+5 there have been more than 1'200 knoxn nuclear explosions, about 90 per cent of them by the supel'-Powers. During the 1t70s, the Disarnament Decade, a total of L19 nuclear explosions vere reported, of {hich the soviet union made 189. the United states 153, France 56, china 15, United Kingdom 5 and India 1. )J/ Tn consequence ' there have for many years been negotiations to r€ach a cornprehensive test ban. These efforts have, horever, been circumscribed by the desire of the nuclear-lreapon States to continue nucl-ear 1-.nc-f i-r'- ar. I Fret rlnderc"round. \5?, rn 1963 agreenent was reached on a partial test-ban Tres.ty betveen the United States, the United Kingdoru and the USSR' The Treaty gained the general suppol:t of the non-nuclear-lreapcn States but was opposed by two nuclear Powers, Frannp rnA f'hirq r.rhin]r .^ncJ-.rrrcrl it re heinrr ei",red Ft haltih,' Iheir efforts to i w sJ vvrr/b achieve qualitative parity in nuclear-wearon develop'nent with the tvo super-Povers. Atmospheric testing by France and China ther.efore has continued until Tecently, while the parties to the r,artial test-ban Treaty have conducted underground tests at an evcn more rapid oace than oefore -.he partia-l .- In 19T9 a1one, at least 52 nuclear tests were carried out. \58. nn important issue vhich the partial- test-ban Treaty did not address ' and uL ioh eecr,npd ei,:ni.i-snnc a"ner.ial tv ;rftFr the lndian nuclear test in vay 197L, was the question of vhether or not "peaceful nuclear erplosions" shoul-d also be
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the history and implications of nuclear weapons testing, and the efforts of various countries to negotiate a comprehensive test ban treaty. The text mentions the development and refinement of nuclear weapons, the number of nuclear explosions conducted, and the concerns about the environmental and humanitarian impacts of these tests. Given the focus on nuclear weapons and international diplomacy, it seems likely that the text falls under the categories related to international relations and global security.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations