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28 April 2003, Geneva
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, the Chinese Delegation wishes to congratulate you on your
assumption of the chairmanship of the present session of the PrepCom. We believe
with your outstanding talent and diplomatic experience you will guide the
session smoothly. The Chinese Delegation stands ready to fully support you in
your work. I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome the
Cuban Delegation that has come to this session as a member to the NPT for the
first time.
Mr. Chairman,
The arms control and disarmament process has all along closely linked to the
overall international security environment. The relaxation in international
situation after the end of the Cold War helped the arms control and disarmament
process yield positive progress. At the turn of the century, however, profound
changes took place in the international security situation. Local conflicts
caused by territorial, religious and ethnic disputes occur from time to time.
The tendency of seeking dispute resolution by military force increases and the
international situation is further away from being tranquil. Countries are faced
with greater threat from such non-traditional factors as terrorism.
The international arms control and disarmament process is now confronted with
severe challenges. Some important disarmament treaties have been abandoned. The
prospect of entry into force for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
(CTBT) is still grim. The status of nuclear weapons in the security strategy of
certain country has been strengthened rather than weakened. Retrogression is
also seen in the area of negative security assurance for non-nuclear-weapon
states. While many issues related to proliferation of nuclear weapons are yet to
be resolved, potential threat of nuclear terrorism has increasingly caused
concern and disturbance in the international community.
The evolution of the international situation has proven once again that
countries are inter-dependent in security and that a stable and democratic
international environment of mutual trust and cooperation and the realization of
security for all are completely necessary in order to eliminate the driving
incentives behind the retention and development of nuclear weapons, thus
promoting nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. To facilitate the grand
objective of a nuclear-weapon-free world, countries need to advocate and follow
a new security concept of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and
cooperation, work together to realize the democratization of international
relations, establish a just and equitable new international political and
economic order, promote lasting peace and sustainable development and promote
multilateralism in the disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation field.
Mr. Chairman,
On the question of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, China has all
along held the following positions. First, a complete prohibition and thorough
destruction of nuclear weapons must be realized and a world free of nuclear
weapons established. Second, nuclear deterrence policy based on the first use of
nuclear weapons should be abandoned. Third, existing nuclear arsenals must be
reduced in an irreversible, effectively verifiable and legally binding manner.
Countries possessing the largest nuclear arsenals bear special and primary
responsibility in this regard. Fourth, the principle of global strategic
stability and undiminished security for all should be followed in nuclear
disarmament. Fifth, no research and development work should be conducted into
low-yield nuclear weapons or “mini-nukes” aimed at probable battlefield use and
the policy of lowering threshold of use of nuclear weapons should be discarded.
Sixth, missile defense programmes should not undermine global strategic balance
or disrupt international or regional peace and stability. Negotiations should
begin as early as possible to conclude relevant international legal instruments
preventing weaponization of and arms race in outer space. Seventh, binding
international instruments on the provision of security assurances for
non-nuclear-weapon-states should be concluded. Eighth, the effectiveness,
integrity, and universality of the NPT should be maintained and international
nuclear non-proliferation efforts should be strengthened. Ninth, proliferation
concerns should be addressed through adoption of a new security concept and by
way of dialogue and cooperation rather than confrontation, exertion of pressure
or even use of military force. Tenth, the international efforts aimed at
preventing proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism must not
undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, developing ones
in particular, in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Mr. Chairman,
China has always been committed to the realization of all NPT objectives in a
comprehensive and balanced way. China has been consistently advocating a
complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all nuclear weapons. China has
exercised utmost restraint towards developing nuclear weapons. China has, ever
since it came into possession of nuclear weapons, undertaken not to be the first
to use nuclear weapons and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against
non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones at any time and in any
situation. Although some negative changes have taken place in international
security and nuclear disarmament, China remains committed to nuclear disarmament
and thorough elimination of nuclear weapons. China will continue its moratorium
on nuclear testing and is committed to an early ratification by its legislature
of the CTBT. China has demonstrated and will continue to show flexibility in
order that the Conference on Disarmament reach consensus on a programme of work
and begin as soon as possible negotiating a treaty banning the production of
fissile materials for nuclear weapons. China will continue to support the
efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones, and is willing to sign the
relevant protocols to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty and
Central Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty at an early date. China supports
the establishment of a zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass
destruction in the Middle East and respects the nuclear-weapon-free status of
Mongolia.
China has persistently adhered to the principle of neither advocating,
encouraging, or engaging in nuclear proliferation, nor assisting any other
countries in developing nuclear weapons. China is member to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NPT. China joined the Zangger Committee in
1997. In light of its international legal obligations, China has taken a series
of measures in nuclear export control. In this field, we have actually adopted
common international practices such as end-use and end-user certificate system,
licensing system, control lists and the “catch-all” principle. As to the scope
of control, China’s Nuclear Export Control List and Export Control List of
Nuclear Dual-use Items and Related Technologies cover all the items, equipment
and technologies contained in the Zangger Committee and Nuclear Suppliers Group
lists. China actively supports international non-proliferation efforts and the
strengthening of IAEA safeguards. In March 2002, China completed the domestic
legal procedures for the entry into force of the Additional Protocol to its
Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA and is the first among the five
nuclear-weapon states to do so.
China supports the international efforts against nuclear terrorism. China has
acceded to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and
established a nuclear materials security system in line with the Convention.
China promulgated Regulation on Control of Nuclear Materials in 1987 and
relevant Practice Guidelines in 1990. China has also taken an active part in
negotiating amendments to the CPPNM and has made significant contribution to the
process.
China has always attached great importance to correctly handling the
relationship between nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear
energy. China now has 16 inter-governmental agreements on peaceful uses of
nuclear energy and has developed fruitful cooperation with IAEA and the relevant
countries. Up to now, China has joined 12 international conventions in the field
of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and is studying accession to other
conventions. In the new century, China will double its effort in peaceful uses
of nuclear energy and expand its exchange and cooperation in this field with
other countries.
Mr. Chairman,
For decades, the NPT has, as the cornerstone of the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime, played an important role in preventing nuclear weapons
proliferation and promoting nuclear disarmament. Universal accession and
compliance is the fundamental assurance of its vitality and vigor. China
supports continued efforts to safeguard the universality and effectiveness of
the NPT and urges countries that have not done so yet to accede to the Treaty as
soon as possible.
China consistently supports and actively participates in the process to
reinforce the review and implementation of the NPT. In this new review cycle, we
have successfully held the first PrepCom, which suggests that thorough exchange
of views on the guidelines, objectives and ways of full compliance with and
enhanced universality of the Treaty and a comprehensive reflection of various
positions in the Chairman’s summary document are useful for the third PrepCom in
forwarding recommendations to the 2005 Review Conference. China endorses the
present session be held in the pattern of the first PrepCom and wishes it a
success.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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.
