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Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
Summary:
In 1958, shortly after the launching of the first artificial satellite, the UN General Assembly decided to establish an ad hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), with 18 members, in order to consider the activities and resources of the United Nations, the specialized agencies, and other international bodies relating to the peaceful uses of outer space. COPUOS also considers international space cooperation and programs that could be undertaken under UN auspices, as legal problems which might arise in programs to explore outer space.
In 1959, the General Assembly established the COPUOS as a permanent body and reaffirmed its mandate in Resolution 1472 (XIV). In 1961, the General Assembly requested the committee to maintain close contact with governments and non-governmental organizations concerned with outer space matters, to provide for the exchange of whatever information relating to outer space activities governments voluntarily supplied, and to assist in the study of measures for the promotion of international cooperation in outer space activities.
The resolution also requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to maintain a public registry of launchings based on the information supplied by member countries.
In 1959, the COPUOS had 24 members, and now has 61. A number of international organizations, including both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, also have observer status with COPUOS and its subcommittees.
China and COPUOS:
China became an observer of COPUOS in 1980, and a member in 1981. China is an ardent supporter of the peaceful uses of outer space and calls for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of outer space weapons. Because China sees the existing international legal instruments on outer space as insufficient to prevent an arms race in outer space, China supports the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) in the Conference on Disarmament (CD).
For more information on China outer space arms control issues, see:
[COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE WEBSITE]
[CHINA AND THE OUTER SPACE TREATY (OST)]
[CHINA'S ATTITUDE TOWARD OUTER SPACE/SPACE WEAPONS]
[CHRONOLOGY OF OUTER SPACE/SPACE WEAPON-RELATED STATEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS]
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.
