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Statement by H.E. Ambassador Hu Xiaodi at the Plenary of the 2003 Session of the Conference on Disarmament on PAROS
31 July 2003, Geneva
Mr. President,
The Chinese delegation warmly welcomes you to Geneva and
is pleased to see you presiding the work of the
Conference on Disarmament (CD). Prior to the
commencement of this session, you have consulted with
various sides in order to help the CD resume its
substantive work. We highly appreciate such efforts. I
would also like to take this opportunity to thank your
predecessors Ambassador Whelan and Ambassador Levy for
their contributions.
Mr. President,
Today, I wish to address the issue of Prevention of an
Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS). First of all, I would
like to briefly review the history of the Chinese
delegation’s efforts in promoting the issue of
prevention of an arms race in and the weaponization of
outer space in the CD. In 1985, China tabled its first
PAROS working paper entitled “China’s Basic Positions on
the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space” as
contained in CD/579. In 2000, we submitted to the CD
another working paper entitled “China’s Position on and
Suggestions for Ways to Address the Issue of Prevention
of an Arms Race in Outer Space at the Conference on
Disarmament”, contained in CD/1606. These two documents
elaborated China’s principled positions on the issue of
PAROS. Our efforts did not stop there. In 2001, we put
forward CD/1645, entitled “Possible Elements of the
Future International Legal Instrument on the Prevention
of the Weaponization of Outer Space”. Building upon
them, China and the Russian Federation, together with
the delegations of Viet Nam, Indonesia, Belarus,
Zimbabwe and the Syrian Arab Republic, jointly submitted
in 2002 a working paper entitled “Possible Elements For
a Future International Legal Agreement On the Prevention
of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat
or Use of Force against outer Space Objects”, as
contained in CD/1679, which further substantiates and
improves CD/1645.
Since then, the delegations of China and the Russian
Federation have held a number of informal briefings,
discussions and bilateral consultations around CD/1679.
In the process, several other delegations have made
constructive comments or amendment proposals. We
compiled them into an informal paper and today have it
distributed to all delegations.
As you can see from the compilation, these amendments
and comments relate to certain contents of CD/1679, such
as “Definition”, “Basic Obligation”, “Verification”,
“Confidence-Building Measures”, “Dispute Settlement”,
“Executive Organization”, “Entry into Force”,
“International Cooperation”, etc.
On “Definition”, it was proposed that such specific
terms as “space object”, “weapon”, “peaceful purpose”,
and “trajectory” should be defined. About “Basic
Obligation”, it was suggested to further substantiate or
enlarge the scope of this article to cover the question
of “test”, “production”, “deployment”, “transfer”,
“use”, the concept of temporary operational disruption,
displacement or other non-damaging interference with a
space object, as well as the impact from the
international trade in dual-use space hardware, software
and technical data. On “Confidence Building Measures”,
it was recommended that CD/1679 should incorporate
relevant content of the “Hague Code of Conduct” so as to
win over the support of its subscribing States. Last
but not least, views about the pre-notification of space
vehicle and ballistic missile launches have been
reflected in the compilation, which also contains many
other constructive points. I must thank cordially all
the colleagues who have contributed to improving
CD/1679.
Mr. President,
Dire developments augur ill for the issue of PAROS. On
the one hand, with the demise of the ABM Treaty, the
restriction by the international legal regime against
the development and deployment of outer space weapons
has been further eroded. As a matter of fact, there are
no legal prohibitions whatsoever against the
introduction of non-WMD weapons (weapons other than
nuclear, biological and chemical) into outer space. On
the other, the world is witnessing space weapon-related
technology advance by leaps and bounds. At the same
time, recent wars and armed conflicts on the surface of
earth have demonstrated the enormous military and
strategic potentials of outer space. Today, “control
and occupy outer space” is no longer merely on
blueprint. Rather, it is put into practice through
codifying relevant theory and policy, beefing up
relevant military organs and stepping up the research
and development of space weapon systems. The risk of
the weaponization of outer space is mounting.
Outer space is the common heritage of all mankind.
Space assets should serve rather than hamper the peace,
welfare and development of all peoples. It is both the
right and obligation of all countries to ensure the
peaceful use of outer space and prevent the
weaponization of and an arms race in outer space. Year
after year, the relevant UNGA resolutions on PAROS also
testify to this. To prevent the weaponization of and an
arms race in outer space, we must not wait until outer
space weapons have been put in place and causing
damages. It would be too late if one country leads in
ushering weapons into outer space, with other States
following the suit. It is imperative to do everything
necessary to prevent the prospect of “space weapon
non-proliferation ”. Therefore, the key is to take
preventive measures. Otherwise, the right of using
outer space peacefully and the security of outer space
assets will be put in jeopardy. To conclude an
international legal agreement to prevent the deployment
of weapons in outer space without further delay stands
out as the best way. Our Conference on Disarmament can
and should take up this task.
Mr. President,
The Chinese delegation has expounded its positions on
the negotiation of an international legal agreement on
the prevention of the deployment of weapons in outer
space, the threat or use of force against outer space
objects. We continue to call upon the CD to start
substantive work in the direction of negotiating
relevant international legal instruments on PAROS and
other important items.
It is our cordial hope that this new compilation
distributed today, as well as other position papers,
documents and statements, could help enhance general
understanding of the PAROS issue and further development
of CD/1679. Let us join efforts in seeking feasible
solutions to enable the CD to restart its work at an
early date.
Thank you, Mr. President.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
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MIIS.
