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Chemical Weapons-Related Statements and Developments
This chronology includes statements and developments on issues related to China and chemical weapons, including the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Geneva Protocol, allegations of a Chinese chemical weapons program and CW-related sales, abandoned chemical weapons (ACW) in China, and Chinese positions on chemical weapons.
12/31/03: Victims of Japanese mustard gas abandoned in Qiqihar City accepted a compensation package from the government of Japan. The 300 million yen package was given as a lump sum to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to distribute among the victims and their families as it saw fit. ["Japan Compensates Mainland Chinese Victims of Abandoned Chemical Weapons," South China Morning Post, 31 December 2003].
11/28/03: Xinhua reported that Japanese and Chinese experts had completed the sealing of chemical weapons abandoned in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province. A total of 724 pieces of chemical weapons were recovered, and will be stored until the completion of specialized destruction facility in the city. [Chinese, Japanese Experts Complete Sealing Chemical Weapons," Beijing Xinhua in English, 28 November 2003].
10/19/03: The Japanese and Chinese governments reached an agreement that Tokyo would pay a compensation package of 300 million yen to the victims of a 4 August mustard gas leak in Qiqihar City that killed one and injured 43. Japan described the payment as "fees for the disposal of abandoned chemical weapons." ["Japan, China Agree on 300 Million Yen over Poison Gas Leak," Tokyo Kyodo World Service in English, 19 October 2003].
09/29/03: Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of a group of Chinese plaintiffs whose relatives were killed or who themselves were injured by Japanese chemical weapons abandoned in China. The ruling ordered the Japanese government to pay a total of 190 million yen (US$1.7 million) to the thirteen plaintiffs. The case, which was first brought before the court in 1996, covered injuries that occurred between 1974 and 1995. ["Japan Ordered to Compensate Chinese Killed, Injured by Dumped Weapons," Hong Kong AFP in English, 29 September 2003].
08/22/03: A Chinese worker, hospitalized after coming into contact with mustard gas abandoned by the Japanese army, died of his injuries. The man's father demanded that the Japanese government pay compensation for the loss of his son. ["Father of Dead Mustard Gas Incident Victim Asks Japan for Compensation," Beijing Xinhua in English, 22 August, 2003.]
08/10/03: 36 workers in Heilongjiang Province were injured on 4 August by chemical weapons abandoned by the Japanese army after World War II. The accident occurred after workers at a construction site in Qiqihar City unearthed five metallic barrels. One barrel ruptured while being removed, leaking fluid into the surrounding soil. Unaware of their contents, two workers cut the barrels into pieces and sold them to a recycling facility. Contaminated soil was also removed from the construction site and transported to other locations. By the evening of 4 August, workers and residents who had been in contact with the material began to report a number of symptoms, such as severe headache, eye-irritation, and vomiting. In all, 36 people were hospitalized, three in critical condition. On 9 August, Chinese scientists determined the substance to be mustard gas. ["Japan-made Mustard Gas Injures 36, Three in Critical Condition," China Daily, 10 August, 2003.]
05/16/03: A Tokyo court ruled against five Chinese nationals who had filed suit against the Japanese government, claiming that they had suffered blistered skin and breathing difficulties after inhaling poison gas from canisters abandoned by the Imperial Japanese Army. While rejecting their claim to compensation, presiding Judge Takashi Saito acknowledged that the plaintiffs had, indeed, been harmed by the weapons. However, in denying the claim Saito explained that the Japanese government could not be held liable because Japan "cannot take effective steps to prevent Chinese from falling victim to the poison gas because even if Tokyo asked Beijing to recover and store the chemical weapons, the request would be affected by China's decision." ["Tokyo Court Rejects Chinese Suit for Damage by Chemical Weapons Abandoned in WWII," The Daily Yomiuri, 15 May 2003.]
04/28/03: The First Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention was held in The Hague from 28 April to 9 May 2003. Ambassador Zhu Zushou, Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the OPCW and head of the Chinese delegation, gave a statement presenting China's position on the CWC. China also released a Report on the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in China, detailing the progress Beijing had made in conforming to CWC regulations, while urging Japan to step up its efforts to unearth and destroy abandoned chemical weapons left on Chinese soil.
The Japanese delegation released a paper describing its efforts to destroy ACWs in China, as well as the technical difficulties it faced due to the age and decrepit state of many of the weapons. It suggested that the Verification Annex of the CWC be applied more flexibly in Japan's case, considering the unique nature of the task.
10/24/02: China released its Measures on Export Control of Certain Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies and Certain Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies Export Control List, with the stated intention of further strengthening control over the export of dual-use chemicals and their related equipment and technologies. Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) spokeswoman Gao Yan stated:
"As an important component of China's export control legal system, the measures are significant to implementing the country's nonproliferation policy, to fulfilling its international obligations, to safeguarding its national security as well as social and public interests, to standardizing its export control of sensitive items, and to maintaining the normal order of foreign trade." ["PRC FM Spokeswoman on Measures on Export Controls of Chemicals," Beijing Xinhua in English, 19 October, 2002, CPP20021019000058.]
09/27/02: Xinhua reports that a Japanese team uncovered a chemical weapons cache in Heilongjiang Province. Weapons excavated included 274 conventional shells, 193 chemical shells, 154 toxic canisters, and four barrels of chemical toxicant with a combined weight of 306.5 kilograms. The team also cleared 1.8 tons of contaminated soil. ["China: Japanese Team Retrieves Chemical Weapons Abandoned during War in Heilongjiang", Xinhua, 27 September, 2002 in FBIS CPP20020927000118.]
07/19/02: Effective July 9, 2002 the U.S. State Department will impose economic sanctions (Public Notice 4071) on eight (8) Chinese companies involving "three cases of sales of advanced conventional arms and chemical and biological weapons components to Iran." The following Chinese companies, Chinese individual, and Indian national that were sanctioned are: Jiangsu Yongli Chemicals and Technology Import and Export Corporation (China); Q.C. Chen (China); China Machinery and Equipment Import Export Corporation (China); China National Machinery and Equipment Import Export Corporation (China); CMEC Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company Ltd. (China); CMEC Machinery and Electrical Import Export Company, Ltd. (China); China Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company (China); Wha Cheong Tai Company Ltd. (China); China Shipbuilding Trading Company (China); Hans Raj Shiv (India). The sales were made between September 2000 and October 2001 and violated the Iran-Iraq Nonproliferation Act of 1992. The duration of the sanctions is two (2) years. [Bill Gertz, "U.S. Penalizes 8 Chinese Firms," Washington Times, 19 July 2002, pg. 1.]
05/20/02: The Washington Times reported that effective May 9, 2002 the United States will impose sanctions on eight (8) Chinese companies (Public Notice 4020) and individual for violating conditions of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. "According to officials...the Chinese sanctions were imposed for sales of cruise missile components to Iran." The companies listed are: the Liyang Chemical Equipment Company (Liyang Yunlong of China); the Zibo Chemical Equipment Plant (Chemet Global Ltd of China); the China National Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Company; the Wha Cheong Tai Company of China; the China Shipbuilding Trading Company; the China Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation; the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, and O.C. Chen, a Chinese businessman. [Bill Gertz, Exporting Weapons Draws U.S. Sanction, The Washington Times, 20 May 2002, pg. 1..]
01/24/02: The U.S. imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies and one individual for allegedly selling chemical-and-biological weapons related equipment to Iran. The companies sanctioned were Liyang Chemical Equipment and the China Machinery and Electric Equipment Import and Export Co.; the individual sanctioned was Q.C. Chen. The sanctions, which will be in place for two years, bar the companies from doing business with the U.S. government and prevent them from getting any assistance from the United States. ["U.S. Hits China with Sanctions over Arms Sales," The Washington Times, 25 January, 2002.]
09/01: A CIA biannual report on global proliferation developments noted that during late 2000 Iranian companies continued to seek illicit chemicals from Chinese firms.
"Prior to the reporting period, Chinese firms had supplied dual-use CW-related production equipment and technology to Iran. The US sanctions imposed in May 1997 on seven Chinese entities for knowingly and materially contributing to Iran’s CW program remain in effect. Evidence during the current reporting period shows Iran continues to seek such assistance from Chinese entities, but it is unclear to what extent these efforts have succeeded." [Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 July Through 31 December 2000.]06/01: On June 26, 2001, sanctions were imposed sanctions on Jiangsu Yongli Chemicals and Technology Import and Export Corporation and its subsidiaries, after the State Department determined that the company had “engaged in activities that require the imposition of measures pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.” [“Notices: Bureau of Nonproliferation; Imposition of Nonproliferation Measures Against a Chinese Entity, Including a Ban on US Government Procurements,” Federal Register, Vol. 66, no 123, 26 June 2001.] A State Department spokesperson indicated that the offending action by the company took place in 2000 and involved "technical assistance controlled under a multilateral regime." However, the State Department would not specify at this time which international regime was at issue, and details of the transfer were classified, but it was believed they were referring to the CWC. ["US says China, North Korea firms aid Iran weapons bid," Reuters, 28 June 2001.]
In response to the sanctions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that China has administered its exports strictly in accordance with the CWC, and that China has strict regulations on the export of such materials. She added that:
"We believe that [Jiangsu Yongli Chemicals] has engaged in normal trade in the international chemical industry ... They abide by the purposes and aims of the [Chemical Weapons] Convention ... No country has the right to impose its domestic laws upon international laws. China strongly opposes the sanction and asks the United States to withdraw it." [Shao Zongwei, "PRC FM Spokeswoman Denies China Exported Chemical Weapons to Iran," China Daily (Internet Version) in English, 29 June 2001 from FBIS CPP20010629000005]05/01/01: The Chinese representative and Ambassador to the Netherlands, Zhu Zushou, called attention to the abandoned chemical weapons left in China by Japan at the sixth meeting of the signatories of the Convention on Banning Chemical Weapons and members of the International Organization for Banning Chemical Weapons. Zhu said:
"The chemical weapons that Japan abandoned in China have been a major concern of China. The chemical weapons abandoned in china have been seriously threatening the safety of the Chinese people's lives and property and the ecological environment. The government of China, a signatory of the convention and a victim of chemical weapons, has been attaching great importance to the issue of abandoned chemical weapons. China has been earnestly undertaking its obligations and cooperating with [OPCW] in inspecting the abandoned chemical weapons. Japan, the country that abandoned the chemical weapons, has set up a special organ in China to handle the chemical weapons abandoned in China. The organ has taken certain moves and achieved some success in disposing of the chemical weapons. However, in term of the urgency of eliminating the great danger of the abandoned chemical weapons and the requirements of the convention, the process of removing the chemical weapons that Japan abandoned in China has been slow and the prospects for these weapons' destruction worrisome ... China once again calls on the country that abandoned the chemical weapons to abide by the convention and act as quickly as possible to activate the process of destroying the chemical weapons. [The OPCW], China, and Japan should also work together to push for the resolution of the problem about the abandoned chemical weapons." [Yi Gaochao, "PRC Representative Urges International Organ to Note Chemical WEapons Japan Left in China," Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service, 15 May 2001 in FBIS CPP20010515000019.]02/23/01: According to a CIA Report on Proliferation Activities in early 2000 , evidence suggests Iran continues to seek chemical weapons assistance from China. However, it remains unclear whether these endeavors have succeeded. [Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions 1 January Through 30 June 2000.]
01/16/01: During the 15-16 January working meeting on China's implementation of the CWC in Shanghai, Vice Minister in Charge of the State Economic and Trade Commission Li Rongrong stated, China faces many new problems as implementation of the CWC deepens. Li called on all local trade and economic committees to strengthen their leadership over implementation. ["Meeting on China's Implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention Held in Shanghai," Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service, 16 January 2001 in FBIS CPP20010116000143.]
10/05/00: Inside China Today Daily News reports a Japanese team led by Suda Akio, the Director of Japanese Abandoned Chemical Weapons Office uncovered a total of 2,800 artillery shells, 897 of which were chemical. The team also cleared 2.7 tons of contaminated soil. Assistance was provided for by a Chinese team headed by Ambassador Liu Zhigang, director of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Chemical Weapons Abandoned in China. ["Japanese Mission Unearths Abandoned Chemical Weapons in China," Inside China Today Daily on-line (www.insidechina.com), 5 October 2000.]
09/27/00: The Japanese mission to remove abandoned chemical weapons in Beian, China concluded today. The Kyodo News Service reports 897 shells were unearthed, 733 contained mustard gas and 154 contained chemical agents that induce nausea. In addition to the chemical shells recovered, 2,183 conventional shells were removed. ["Japan Ends Chemical Weapon Removal in China's Beian," The Kyodo News Service, 27 September 2000.]
09/12/00: In an exclusive interview with the Xinhua News Agency, the Deputy Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons John Gee praised China for its efforts to implement the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Xinhua reports Gee as saying, "China has done one of the best jobs among all countries in implementing the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction." Gee is also reported to have said, "China has established a complete network for carrying out the convention. China is the only country in the world that has set up corresponding organizations in all localities at the provincial level to deal with the issue." ["China's Contribution to Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Hailed," The Xinhua News Agency, 12 September 2000.]
08/30/00: The Tokyo Kyodo reports a 75-member team will travel to Beian, Heilongjiang province, China on 13 September to begin disposal of World War II era chemical weapons. The mission will last two weeks. The 75-member team is comprised of eight soldiers from the Self-Defense Forces, government representatives and civilian weapons experts. The team will be assisted by 200 local workers. ["Japan to Search for Abandoned Weapons in China in Sept.," Tokyo Kyodo, 30 August 2000, in FBIS JPP20000830000067.]
04/18/00: Before a news conference in Japan Mikio Aoki, Chief Cabinet Secretary, read out the Japanese government's decision on the whether or not the use of chemical disposal equipment in China to clean up abandoned Japanese chemical munitions would violate Japan's self-imposed three principles on the export of weapons. The Japanese government said that the use did not violate the principles as long as the equipment is guaranteed to be used only for disposal of the munitions and are not transferred to a third party.
Prime Minister Eisaku Sato founded the principles on the export of weapons in 1967. The three principles are as follow:
1. The export of weapons to Communist countries are
banned.
2. The export of weapons to nations taking part in international armed
conflicts are banned.
3. The export of weapons to countries targeted by U.N. resolutions
prohibiting the export of weapons.
[Source: "Japan OK's Equipment's Use for Weapons Disposal in China," Tokyo Kyodo in English, 0525 GMT 19 April 2000 in FBIS JPP20000418000042.]
02/09/00:
The Japanese government formalized plans to send a 50-member team comprised of
Self-Defense Forces personnel, academic experts and doctors to Beian in the
northeastern province of Heilongjiang. The team, with cooperation from Chinese
workers, will begin digging out the estimated 1,500 shells that were abandoned
by the Japanese Imperial Army at the end of World War II, in September.
Recovered shells will be transported to the Chinese military's
storage facility in Qiqihar, about 300 kilometers west of Beian.
["Japan Fixes China Mission Plan for Arms Disposal", Jiji Press Ticker Service,
9 January 2000]
02/02/00: The CIA issued a report entitled "Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 January Through 30 June 1999," which stated, "During the first half of 1999, Tehran continued to seek production technology, expertise, and chemicals that could be used as precursor agents in its chemical warfare (CW) program from entities in Russia and China."
10/13/99: Shen Guofang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, in a speech to the UN 1st Committee, discussed the CWC. Specifically, Shen criticized the US for not fully complying with its CWC obligations while China has allowed several inspections by the OPCW. Shen stated:
"It has been two years since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force, but its universality is yet to be further promoted. A few countries, especially one country with major chemical industry, have hitherto failed to submit their initial declarations on civilian chemical industries in accordance with the Convention. [A] certain country has made various reservations, through domestic legislation, in implementing the Convention. This issue left over from history should be resolved at the earliest possible date. In this context, we call on the countries concerned to face squarely the above-mentioned problems and earnestly work to implement the Convention in full." [Full Text of Speech]
7/30/99: China and Japan signs a Memorandum of Understanding
regarding the clean-up of abandoned chemical weapons in China. The
clean-up begins in April 2000, but no specific deadline for completion was
agreed.
[The CBW Conventions Bulletin, September 1999, pg 19]
[Text of the MOU]
04/15/99: According to The Washington Times a classified Pentagon report produced in March, Chinese entities have supplied Iraq with information on chemical weapons, protective suits and with data that could be used in Iraq's chemical weapons programs. [Bill Gertz, "China still shipping arms despite pledges", The Washington Times, April 15, 1999.]
02/99: The chemical analysis laboratory of the China Anti-chemical Weapons Research Institute was designated by the International Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as an international verification laboratory and was also listed as the best of the seven laboratories which participated in the international accreditation. [Xi Qixin and Ye Guosheng, "PRC lab Selected by Chemical Weapon Banning Organization", as translated in FBIS, 9 February 1999.]
02/99: An unclassified CIA report to Congress on global proliferation issues during the first half of 1998 stated that "Chinese entities sought to supply Iran and Syria with CW-related chemicals during this reporting period. The US sanctions imposed in May 1997 on seven Chinese entities for knowingly and materially contributing to Iran's CW program remain in effect." [Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 January - 30 June 199, Central Intelligence Agency, 9 February 1999]
07/27/98: China further clarified its position on chemical weapons in its white paper called China's National Defense, stating:
"The Chinese government has always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical weapons. China signed the CWC in January 1993, ratified the convention in December 1996 and deposited the instruments of ratification on April 25, 1997, thus becoming an original signatory state to the CWC. China supports the purpose and goals of the CWC, and advocates that chemical weapons and facilities for their production should be destroyed as soon as possible, in accordance with the related provisions in the CWC. Meanwhile, China holds that the convention should promote international economic, trade, and scientific and technological exchanges in the field of chemical industry, ensuring that chemical industry technology truly benefits mankind.""China has been active and conscientious in fulfilling the obligations stipulated in the CWC. It delivered the initial declaration and annual declaration in time and in their entirety and has accepted inspections by the convention. It has also participated in every one of the convention's executive council meetings and the two conferences of states parties."
"China has been a victim of chemical weapons. Large quantities of chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese aggressor troops are found in China to this day, which still threaten the lives and property of the local people and the environment in which they live. In view of this, China demands that, in keeping with the stipulations of the convention, any country that has left chemical weapons in another country destroy, as soon as possible, such weapons wholly and thoroughly."
"Iran obtained material related to chemical warfare (CW) primarily from Chinese firms during 1997. Iran already has manufactured and stockpiled chemical weapons, including blister, blood, and choking agents and the bombs and artillery shells for delivering them. However, Tehran is seeking foreign equipment and expertise to create a more advanced and self sufficient CW infrastructure."
12/97: China's Ministry of Chemical Industry, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) jointly issued a circular strengthening controls of chemical-related exports. The circular stated that chemical-related imports and exports must only be handled by corporations authorized by the Ministry of Chemical Industry and MOFTEC. Such corporations must obtain a license to import or export chemical materials, technologies, and equipment. In addition, authorized corporations must obtain special approval from the Ministry of Chemical Industry to export chemical materials to countries that are not signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). ["Rules tightened in wake of chemical weapon claims," Hong Kong Standard, 18 December 1997 (online version).]
11/97: In its report entitled, Proliferation: Threat and Response, the US Defense Department stated:
"The Chinese have an advanced chemical warfare program, including research and development, production, and weaponization capabilities. Chinese military forces have a good understanding of chemical warfare doctrine, having studied the tactics and doctrine of the former Soviet Union. Chinese military forces conduct defensive chemical warfare training and are prepared to operate in contaminated environments. In the near future, China is likely to achieve the necessary expertise and delivery capability to integrate chemical weapons successfully into overall military operations.""China's current inventory of chemical agents includes the full range of traditional agents, and China is conducting research into more advanced agents. It has a wide variety of delivery systems for chemical agents, including tube artillery, rockets, mortars, landmines, aerial bombs, sprayers, and SRBMs." [Office of the Secretary of Defense, Proliferation: Threat and Response, November 1997.]
"For several years now, the United States has made clear its concerns about the inadequacies in China's system for controlling chemical-related exports. Moreover, we have long made clear our concern that these inadequacies have been exploited by Iran to obtain equipment and technology for its chemical weapons program. Indeed, in May 1997, the US imposed trade sanctions on seven Chinese entities, including one mentioned in today's story, for assisting Iran's chemical weapons program by providing precursor chemicals and chemical production equipment and technology.""These activities predated China's accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which obligates China not to assist anyone, in any way, with chemical weapons activities. Since acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention, China has made some improvements to its chemical export controls. But we still believe it needs to do more. We have urged China to make such improvements and will continue to do so."
"The point is that the company involved is one that we were very concerned about, and we have now received additional assurances from the Chinese that that company's activities will be monitored much more closely and therefore, some of the concern that may have led some people to worry about this particular issue should be ameliorated." [US Department of State Press Briefing, 30 October 1997.]
"China ratified the CWC in April this year. To date, China has received two initial inspections by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons...China attaches importance to the control and management of the trade of sensitive chemicals. It has formulated a number of regulations and lists of chemicals in accordance with relevant international convention." [Statement by H.E. Sha Zukang, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China for Disarmament Affairs, at the First Committee of the 52nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 14 October 1997.]
"For several years now, the United States has made clear its concerns about the inadequacies in China's system for controlling chemical-related exports. Moreover, we have long made clear our concern that these inadequacies have been exploited by Iran to obtain equipment and technology for its chemical weapons program. Indeed, in May 1997, the US imposed trade sanctions on seven Chinese entities, including one mentioned in today's story, for assisting Iran's chemical weapons program by providing precursor chemicals and chemical production equipment and technology.""These activities predated China's accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which obligates China not to assist anyone in any way with chemical weapons activities. Since acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention, China has made some improvements to its chemical export controls. But we still believe it needs to do more. We have urged China to make such improvements, and will continue to do so."
"The point is that the company involved is one that we were very concerned about, and we have now received additional assurances from the Chinese that that company's activities will be monitored much more closely and therefore, some of the concern that may have led some people to worry about this particular issue should be ameliorated." [US Department of State, Daily Press Briefing, 30 October 1997.]
07/28/97: Chinese Major General Xiao Zhentang, head of the Arms Department of the Headquarters of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), stated that China has been very successful in recent years in chemical analysis technology for anti-chemical warfare: "China is capable of and eligible to take part in verification of international chemical disarmament". ["High-tech equipment modernizes PLA troops," China Daily, 31 July 1997, p. 1.]
07/13/97: An unnamed official of the General Staff Headquarters gives a briefing in Beijing on the Anti-Chemical-Warfare Corps of the PLA. An Anti-Chemical-Wafare school was established in 1950 and in 1956 the Central Military Commission approved the establishment of an Anti-Chemical Warfare Department. The official notes that the Anti-Chemical-Warfare Corps currently has protective capabilities against nuclear and chemical warfare and reiterates that China has always opposed the development of chemical and biological weapons. [Zhongguo Xinwen She, 13 July 1997; in "News Chronology," The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 37, September 1997, p. 28.]
05/97: A 1998 CIA report on proliferation activities noted that in May 1997 "The US imposed sanctions on seven Chinese entities for knowingly and materially contributing to Iran's CW program."
04/25/97: China ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by depositing its instrument of ratification to the United Nations.
12/30/96: The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) approved the CWC during its 23rd session. ["Kagaku Heiki Kinshi Joyaku Zenjindaii Ga Hijun," Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese), 31 December 1996; Xinhua (Beijing), 30 December 1996, in FBIS-CHI-96-251, 30 December 1996.]
12/16/96: At the fifteenth plenary session of the Preparatory Commission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Chinese head of delegation Huang Yu stated:
"The early ratification by countries with the largest stock of chemical weapons represents the key to the early realization of the object and purpose of the Convention…We will…submit as early as possible the Convention to our legislative body, i.e. the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, for its consideration and approval, so as to be an original State Party of the Convention".
On the issue of Japanese abandoned chemical weapons (ACW) in China, Huang stated: "We strongly demand the country concerned to face up to the reality of abandoned chemical weapons, undertake full responsibility for destruction of these abandoned weapons." [Xinhua (Beijing), 16 December 1996, in JPRS.]
11/20/96: After talks between US Secretary of State Warren
Christopher and Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Premier Li Peng, and Vice Premier
Qian Qichen, Christopher stated that "On chemical weapons, the United States and
China agreed to seek ratification of the Chemical Weapons
Convention
by the end of April 1997 so that both of our nations can be original parties to
the Convention." ["Remarks by US
Secretary of State Warren Christopher," China World Hotel, Beijing, China, 20
November 1996.]
10/96: Chinese military organizations and researchers at the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences (CAMMS) have been researching new drugs to counter the effects of new-generation chemical weapons, including the pursuit of antidotes against neurotoxins. According to the Chinese press, the researchers have made substantial progress in developing neurotoxin antidotes. [Jian Kang Bao (Beijing), 13 October 1996, in S&T Perspectives, February 1997.]
09/21/96: US government reports alleged that China had transferred to Iran equipment and dual-use chemicals that could be used to manufacture chemical weapons. Chinese government officials dismissed the reports as "purely fictitious, not worth refuting."
08/17/96: China said it needed more than $1 billion to dispose of the chemical weapons abandoned by the Japanese Imperial Army.
07/25/96: China said it would step up its efforts to secure ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
05/14/96: Japanese experts began clean-up of 1.8 million Japanese chemical weapons left behind in China after World War II.
04/25/96: In a Sino-Russian joint statement, the two countries stated that they "value a speedy coming into effect of the Chemical Weapons Convention." [Beijing Review, 13-19 May 1996, p. 7.]
04/96: In a report entitled, Proliferation: Threat and Response, the US Defense Department stated:
"China has a mature chemical warfare capability and may well have maintained the biological warfare program it had prior to acceding to the Biological Weapons Convention in 1984. It has funded a chemical warfare program since the 1950s and has produced and weaponized a wide variety of agents. Its biological warfare program included manufacturing infectious micro-organisms and toxins. China has a wide variety of delivery means available, including ballistic and cruise missiles and aircraft, and is continuing to develop systems with upgrade capabilities." [Office of the Secretary of Defense, Proliferation: Threat and Response, April 1996.]
11/95: In its white paper on arms control and disarmament, China stated:
"The ultimate goal of disarmament is the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (including chemical and biological weapons), the complete prohibition of outer space weapons, and reductions in conventional arms as befits actual circumstances." China stated that it "has consistently advocated the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical weapons. It does not produce or possess chemical weapons." China also stated that it hopes the CWC "will go into effect at an early date and be thoroughly and effectively implemented, so as to free mankind as soon as possible from the threat of chemical weapons and bring about a world free of such weapons." ["China: Arms Control And Disarmament," Information Office of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, November 1995.]
"China has a massive civilian chemical industry. It is, however, very cautious and responsible regards the export of chemicals that could be used to manufacture chemical weapons and related technologies and equipment, refusing such exports if they are to be used for the purpose of manufacturing chemical weapons. In order to ensure these items if exported not to be used in the production of chemical weapons, the Chinese government has drafted regulations and measures for the control of their exportation. A detailed list of chemicals subject to export control has been drawn up in accordance with the Verification Annex of the convention. Import and export of chemicals on this list and technologies and equipment used in their manufacture are under the centralized management of the Ministry of Chemical Industry (MCI). Business related to such imports and exports is handled by specialized enterprises designated by MCI and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC). MCI, MOFTEC and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) take joint responsibility for examining and approving imports and exports, issuing licenses and making inspections. China insists that the governments of importing countries provide assurances that the relevant goods imported from China not be used to manufacture chemical weapons or retransferred to a third country." ["China: Arms Control And Disarmament," Information Office of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, November 1995.]
02/26/95: A Japanese government team arrived in China to begin work on dealing with abandoned chemical weapons. Its agenda included attention to methods for sealing unearthed weapons in steel containers for transport.
10/21/94: During the general debate on disarmament and international security of the UN First Committee of the UN General Assembly, Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Hou Zhitong said that China was making preparations to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) at an early date. Hou stated:
"We hope countries that have special responsibilities with regard to chemical weapons will speed up their ratification process and fulfill their obligations under the CWC". ["China Calls for a Nukes-Free World," Beijing Review, 7-13 November 1994, p. 4.]
Question: "Some correspondents asked if a Chinese company had sold contraband chemicals in the Middle East region. Can you confirm and comment on this?"12/93: Li Daoyu, Chinese ambassador to the United States, stated:Answer: "The Chinese side seriously and conscientiously investigated this matter. The initial results of the investigation show that at repeated requests by a US company, the Chinese company, in violation of the relevant provisions set by the Chinese government, sold a certain amount of some kind of chemicals to this US company. The Chinese side has informed the US government of the results of the investigation and demanded that the US government conduct necessary investigations concerning the US company. According to what has been said by the US side, the US government is conducting its own investigation. Therefore, the US side should say where the US company finally sold these goods." ["News Briefing by the Foreign Ministry spokesman Wu Jianmin," Beijing Review, 7-20 February 1994, p. 36.]
"China was itself victimized by the scourge of chemical warfare in the past and has always opposed any use or `proliferation of such weapons." Li further stated: "In [July 1993] the United States accused the Chinese cargo ship Yin He of carrying chemical weapon precursors, thiodiglycol and thionyl chloride, bound for Iran, and took such extraordinary actions as sending warships to follow the ship on the high seas and sending military aircraft to take aerial photos of it, thereby interrupting the ship's normal navigation...After exhaustive inspections, including those conducted by the representatives of Saudi Arabia as the third parties with participation by technical experts dispatched by the U.S. government, it was indisputably established that the ship did not carry the above-mentioned chemicals. Now that the truth has been brought to light, it is only reasonable for China to ask the United States to make a public apology and provide compensation for all financial losses sustained by Chinese side." [Li Daoyu, "Foreign Policy And Arms Control: The View From China," Arms Control Today, December 1993, p. 10.]
"For nearly a century, chemical weapons have posed a constant threat to the mainland. China and many other countries and their peoples have been victims of chemical weapons. The 24 years of negotiations on the convention have traversed a difficult and torturous path. China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all chemical weapons at an early date, and it has worked tirelessly along with other countries in making positive contributions to the signing of the convention…The advent, development, and eventual destruction of chemical weapons drive home the fact that the arms race was detrimental not only to the world peace, but also to the racers themselves. The trend for world peace will ultimately prevail…An entire category of chemical weapons of mass destruction will be destroyed and their production facilities will be dismantled. The Chinese Government also has consistently stood for the prohibition and thorough destruction of another category of weapons of mass destruction--nuclear weapons. We hope this goal can also be achieved at an early date…The convention is not perfect. It has drawbacks, especially concerning verification, which, we hope, can be remedied, overcome, and avoided during the course of practice…Achieving the objectives of the convention rests on its implementation. We hope that the document will become effective at an early date and will be strictly observed by all signatory states. Countries possessing chemical weapons and their production facilities should destroy them as soon as possible. Countries leaving chemical weapons in other countries should earnestly resolve the problem of chemical weapons left behind according to the provisions of the convention. Meanwhile, we believe that the convention should not affect trade and scientific and technological exchanges in the field of chemistry conducted for peaceful purposes." [Xinhua (Beijing), 13 January 1993, in FBIS-CHI-93-009, 14 January 1993.]
09/3/92: Hou Zhitong, Chinese ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament (CD), stated that China has always been in favor of a chemical weapons ban, and said that China supports a "comprehensive ban and total destruction of all chemical weapons and their production facilities".
Hou added that "Now we are pleased to see that the negotiations have finally made important headway this year". Hou questioned the verification regime of the draft treaty: "An extremely large number of chemical facilities not relevant to chemical weapons are subject, where there is no necessity at all to declaration and verification". [Xinhua, 3 September 1992, in FBIS-CHI-92-173, 4 September 1992; JPRS-TND-92-032, 9 September 1992, in Proliferation Watch, September-October 1992, p. 3.]
07/12/91: China participated in the second Round Robin tests in which laboratories from 15 countries analyzed spike samples simulating ones gathered during inspections under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
06/16/91: A team of Japanese government experts arrived in China to determine whether old chemical weapons buried in Jilin and other northeastern provinces were of Japanese origin.
08/10/90: China distributed a paper at the Conference on Disarmament reaffirming its previous stated positions on challenge inspections. It reaffirmed its objection to the statement that states should be obliged to accept challenge inspections and that there should be no sites safe from such inspections.
06/11/90: During a telephone interview with a journalist from France's AFP news agency, responding to the allegation that China transferred chemical weapons to Libya, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated:
"China denies that it is helping Libya, or any other country, develop chemical weapons. ... China has consistently stood for a comprehensive prohibition and complete destruction of chemical weapons. ... China is a non-chemical weapons state. It does not cooperate with any other countries in the field of development and production of chemical weapons." [AFP (Hong Kong)i in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
"The key to the thorough settlement of chemical weapons is that the countries possessing the most chemical weapons must destroy all these weapons as soon as possible, still less should they manufacture or develop new chemical weapons. China has consistently advocated the total prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical weapons.""China agrees to establish an effective, reasonable, and feasible system to examine the treaty on chemical weapons. Queries concerning chemical weapons should not go beyond the purpose, target, or scope of the treaty, and precautions should be taken against any possibility of abusing the query system." [Renmin Ribao, 1 March 1990, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
"[Regarding the CWC], our basic position is that we are in favour of an effective, reasonable and feasible verification regime under the convention, including challenge inspection. In the mean time we maintain that challenge inspection should not go beyond the purposes, objectives and scope of the convention, and that its possible abuse must be strictly guarded against. Specific provisions should ensure a balance between the rights and obligations of the requesting State on the one hand and those of the requested State on the other, and give full play to the role of the future organization." [CD/PV.538; in "News Chronology," Chemical Weapons Convention Bulletin No. 8, June 1990, p.10.]
"China has all along stood for complete prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical weapons. ... China hopes an international convention on complete prohibition of chemical weapons will be concluded as soon as possible, and it has actively participated in the relevant negotiations. ... Possessing the largest arsenals of chemical weapons in the world, the United States and the Soviet Union should undoubtedly bear special responsibility for the prohibition of chemical weapons." [Xinhua, 28 September 1989, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
"The Chinese Government and chemical industry lend wholehearted support to the objective of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical weapons. ... China neither possesses nor produces chemical weapons. China has all along attached great importance to and taken an active part in the negotiations on the chemical weapons convention in Geneva, working constructively for its early conclusion." [Xinhua, 21 September 1989, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
"Our country has resolutely opposed every kind of armaments race and advocated overall prohibition and complete destruction of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons, and outer space weapons, as well as large-scale reductions of regular weapons and military personnel. [Renmin Ribao, 15 September 1989, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
"Countries with the largest chemical arsenals should be the first to guarantee to stop the development, production, and transfer of chemical weapons; guarantee not to use chemical weapons under any circumstances; and destroy the chemical arsenals as soon as possible.""Countries with the capability to develop chemical weapons should stop development and production of chemical weapons."
"As a signatory to the Geneva Protocol, China is always opposed to the use of chemical weapons. China supports the UN secretary general continuing to play a role in investigating issues concerning use of chemical weapons with UN General Assembly and Security Council authorization. China is opposed to proliferation of chemical weapons of any forms. At the same time China is also opposed to any country's attempt to threaten another country's security under any pretext over the chemical weapon issue." [Beijing Radio, 8 January 1989; in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
10/22/88: China held a nuclear and chemical weapon exercise in the north of the country, the largest since the "Big Contest of Strength" in 1964.
09/06/88: Chinese soldiers tested new chemical weapon defensive equipment in a high-altitude zone. Maneuvers were conducted against simulated chemical land mines and shells.
04/04/88: China's ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament endorsed the early conclusion of an international treaty to ban and destroy chemical weapons with effective verification measures.
03/31/88: China reaffirmed its status as a non-possessor of chemical weapons at the Conference on Disarmament.
04/16/87: Fan Guoxiang, head of China's delegation to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, stated:
"States possessing chemical weapons are obligated to declare and destroy their stockpile and production facilities under international verification so as to ensure the security of all states.""While an international monitoring of production of chemical weapons is urged, [the] legitimate interests of enterprises as well as commercial and technical secrets should be protected."
"China hopes to see a breakthrough in reaching a convention on a chemical weapons ban." [Xinhua, 16 April 1987, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
"China has consistently opposed the arms race and will never take part in it. We stand for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all nuclear, chemical, biological, and space weapons and for a drastic reduction of conventional weapons. As early as 1964, China declared explicitly on the very first day when it came into possession of nuclear weapons that at no time and under no circumstances will it be the first to use nuclear weapons. China has also undertaken not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states or nuclear-free zones.""China does not advocate or encourage nuclear proliferation, nor does it help other countries develop nuclear weapons. China supports whatever actions and initiatives that are conducive to the realization of disarmament and elimination of the threat of nuclear war." [Beijing Review, 30 March 1987, in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
04/21/86: China said that only the facilities and technological units used solely for the production of chemical warfare agents and their key precursors should be defined as chemical weapon production facilities.
09/30/85: Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian stated at the UN General Assembly that all countries capable of manufacturing and producing chemical weapons should stop testing, producing, transferring, and deploying chemical weapons and pledge not to use such weapons.
03/08/84: China submitted a working paper at the Conference on Disarmament that explained its positions on scope, declaration, and verification of a chemical weapons convention.
03/30/82: China stated at the Conference on Disarmament that a convention on chemical weapons should have an international monitoring and control mechanism for effective on-site inspections and verification.
12/02/80: China voted for a draft UN resolution calling for an impartial investigation of the reported use of chemical weapons in various regions of the world.
06/19/80: China submitted a five-part proposal for a convention banning chemical weapons at the Committee on Disarmament (later Conference on Disarmament).
[CHRONOLOGY OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS-RELATED STATEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS]
[CHINA AND THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC)]
See also:
[CHINA AND THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (BWC)]
[CHINA AND CBW NONPROLIFERATION]
[ABANDONED CHEMICAL WEAPONS (ACW) IN CHINA]
[CHINA AND THE GENEVA PROTOCOL]
[CHINA AND THE AUSTRALIA GROUP (AG)]
[WHITE PAPER - CHINA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE 2002]
[WHITE PAPER - CHINA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE 2000]
[WHITE PAPER - CHINA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE 1998]
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material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
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