China and Conventional Weapons Nonproliferation

China and Conventional Weapons Nonproliferation

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a major arms supplier to the developing world, China has an important role to play in conventional weapons arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation. The history of Chinese conventional weapons nonproliferation can be divided into three phases. The first phase encompasses the 1950s, '60s and early 1970s. Throughout this time period Chinese arms exports were given as free military aid to governments and revolutionary groups supportive of Chinese interests. China's arms export profile consisted of small arms and light weapons. By the late 1970s Beijing adopted a more "pragmatic" policy; this began the second phase from the late 1970s to 1991. Arms exports of this period were largely commercially driven and to a greater cross-section of importers, and for payment. Also, the quality and quantity of arms were dramatically increased. By 1990, Chinese arms exports had captured 8.0 percent of the global market. The volume of exports had quadrupled, ranking China third in the world if measured by the contractual value of the exports. China's export profile shifted from small arms and light weapons to complete weapons platforms. The end of the Cold War marks the beginning of the third phase of China's arms exports. The period represents a marked decline in the quantity of arms exported. By 1996, China dropped to the fifth largest exporter of conventional weapons to the developing world, as measured in terms of total arms deliveries. In 1996, China sold $600 million worth of weapons to a variety of developing countries. China was preceded by (1) United States, $5.691 billion; (2) the UK $5.6 billion, (3) France $2.6 billion and (4) Russia $2.20 billion. From 1990 to 1998 arms exports fell by 75 percent with the entry of inexpensive Russian arms in to the market. Also, the poor performance of Chinese arms in the Iran-Iraq War and Persian Gulf War negatively impacted sales . The decline has been so precipitous that it raises serious questions as to the viability of China's market share. During the late 1990s, few contracts were awarded and most of those were with China's traditional clients. [See Richard Grimmett, Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1990-1997, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 31 July 1998, 98-647 F; Evan S. Medeiros and Bates Gill, Chinese Arms Exports: Policy, Players, and Process (Strategic Studies Institute, August 2000).]

In terms of export policy, China maintains a "pragmatic" approach. China officially outlined its policy on conventional arms exports in its 1995 white paper on arms control and disarmament, in which it stated:

"With regard to the transfer of military equipment and related technology, China respects the right of every country to self-defense aimed at safeguarding its own security in accordance with the relevant principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations, but at the same time it is very concerned about the adverse effects on world security and regional stability arising from excessive accumulations of weaponry."

"For many years until the early 1980s, China did not engage in weapons export trade, and since then the volume of such exports has been limited. In accordance with a resolution by the UN General Assembly, China participates in the United Nations register of conventional arms transfers. As these records make clear, China's exports of conventional weapons are only a small portion of those of the United States, Russia, Britain, France or Germany."

"China consistently adheres to a series of principles on conventional weapons transfers. The export of such weapons should help the recipient nation increase its appropriate defense capacity. The transfer must not impair peace, safety or stability regionally or globally. China does not use trade in weaponry to interfere in sovereign states' internal affairs." ["China: Arms Control and Disarmament," Information Office of the State Council Of the People's Republic of China, November 1995, Beijing.]

China provided even more details on its conventional arms sales and its export controls on arms exports in the July 1998 "white paper" on national defense. It noted:

"With regard to the transfer of military equipment and related technology, China respects the right of every country to independent or collective self-defense and to acquisition of weapons for this purpose in accordance with the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations, but at the same time it is concerned about the adverse effects on world security and regional stability arising from excessive accumulations of weaponry.

For many years until the early 1980s, China did not engage in weapons exports, and since then the volume of such exports has been limited. Beginning in the mid-1980s, China's export of military products has been on the decrease: The volume of contracted business was just over two billion US dollars worth in 1987, dropped to 600 million US dollars worth in 1991, and did not exceed one billion US dollars worth in the following years. The 1993-97 records of the UN register of conventional arms exports and imports of various countries show that China's exports of conventional weapons are small compared to those of some other countries.

China practices strict control of the transfer of conventional military equipment and related technologies, and observes the following principles: The export of weapons must help the recipient nation enhance its capability for legitimate self-defense; it must not impair peace, security and stability of the relevant region and the world as a whole; and it must not be used to interfere in the recipient state's internal affairs. Since 1992 China has participated in the United Nations' register of conventional arms transfers.

In October 1997, the Chinese government published the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Control of Military Products Export, stipulating that a licensing system shall be practiced for China's weapons exports, and all external transfers of domestic military products shall be carried out by the departments authorized by the government and companies approved and registered by the government. The Regulations state that the business activities of such departments and companies must remain strictly within the projects approved by the government, that contracts of military products transfers must require approval from the relevant competent government departments before taking effect, and that important items of arms exports must be submitted to the State Council and the Central Military Commission for approval." [See China's National Defense]

For more information on China and various conventional weapons issues, see the following pages:

[CHINA AND AN ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINE (APL) BAN]

[CHINA AND THE INHUMANE WEAPONS CONVENTION (IWC)]

[CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS CHRONOLOGY]

[CHINA AND THE UN REGISTER OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS (UNROCA)]

[CHINA AND THE WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT]

[CHINA AND THE ARMS CONTROL IN THE MIDDLE EAST (ACME)/PERMANENT-5 TALKS]

[CHINA'S CONVENTIONAL ARMS AND MISSILE EXPORT CONTROLS]

[CHINA'S ATTITUDE TOWARD US ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN]

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 its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.