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Statement by the Chinese government upon signature
of the
Inhumane Weapons Convention (IWC)
14 September 1981
The Government of the People's Republic of China deems that the basic spirit of the convention reflects the reasonable demand and good intention of numerous countries and peoples of the world regarding prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which are excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects. This basid spirit conforms to China's consistent position and serves the interest of opposing aggression and maintaining peace.
However, the convention fails to provide for supervision or verification of any violation of its clauses, thus weakening its binding force. The protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of mines, boody traps and other devices fails to lay down strict restrictions on the use of such weapons by the aggressor on the territory of his victim and to provide adequately for the right of a state, victim of an aggression, to defend itself by all necessary means. The protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of incendiary weapons does not stipulate restrictions on the use of such weapons against combat personnel.
It is the hope of the Chinese Government that these inadequacies can be remedied in due course.
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.
