An international agreement not to test nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space, or under water, signed by the USA, the Soviet Union, and the UK (but not France). On 1 July 1968 the UK, the USA, and the Soviet Union signed a Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was endorsed by 59 other states. China carried out underground nuclear tests during 1994–95 and declared it would continue testing. France received international condemnation for carrying out a series of six tests in the south Pacific (1995–96) but then announced a permanent end of French tests. In 1996 member nations began signing a comprehensive test-ban treaty, which will not become legally binding unless all the nuclear nations sign.