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Mr. President,
As this is the first time for me to deliver a formal statement in a CD plenary as the new Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, please allow me, at the outset, in the name of my delegation and on my own behalf, to express my sincere congratulations to you, the honourable representative of the host country, on assuming the important responsibility of the CD Presidency. In the past weeks, you have devoted your full energy to the work of the CD, demonstrating outstanding wisdom and skills as well as patience. You have made your utmost efforts to facilitate new progress in the work of the CD, winning appreciation and respect from colleagues.
May I also take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude to your predecessor, distinguished Ambassador Norberg of Sweden. Under his able leadership, the CD got off to a good start at the current session by swiftly adopting the agenda. Ambassador Norberg also conducted constructive consultations on those agenda items which are of interest to all parties. His hard work has contributed to an early establishment of working mechanisms under the CD.
Likewise, I would sincerely thank all the distinguished colleagues for the warm welcome they accorded to me upon my assumption of the present post. I am extremely pleased to work with all of you to contribute to this important multilateral negotiating forum for arms control and disarmament, which has direct bearings on world peace and security. My appreciation also goes to Mr. Petrovsky, the Secretary General of the CD, to Mr. Bensmail, the Deputy Secretary General, and to all the staff of the Secretariat as well as to the interpreters and translators for their hard work and excellent service.
Mr. President,
The present international situation is still undergoing profound changes, marked by a growing trend towards multi-polarization and a wide-spread aspiration for peace and development. Against such a backdrop, fresh progress has been attained over the last year in the field of international arms control and disarmament. After entry into force, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) has reached the stage of implementation. The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has commenced its work. Intensified negotiations on strengthening the effectiveness of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) are also underway. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has adopted a protocol to enhance the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of its safeguards system. The United States and Russia have reached understandings on further steps in nuclear disarmament. The area covered by nuclear-weapon-free zones has expanded throughout the world.
At the same time, however, one does not lose sight of the daunting challenges and the arduous task in the field of disarmament and security. Despite the fact that the Cold War has receded into history, we are still haunted by the specter of the Cold War mentality, as evidenced by the expansion of military blocs, the strengthening of military alliances, the retention and even extension of the nuclear deterrence doctrine, and research, development and proliferation of strategic defense systems. Moreover, hegemonism and power politics which seek to interfere in others' internal affairs and infringe on others' sovereignty still hold out. Such phenomena run counter to the trend of the times and as such are detrimental to international peace and security, and are hampering progress in the field of disarmament.
Mr. President,
China has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace. It is fully committed to world peace and security and attributes overriding importance to its economic development. China has never taken part in any arms race, nor has it stationed a single soldier or weapon system on foreign soil. It does not ally itself with any big power or power blocs or seek to form a bloc of its own. History has borne witness to China as a staunch force for maintaining regional and global peace, security and stability.
China has all along advocated genuine disarmament. It stands for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, the prohibition of the development of outer space weapons and a reasonable reduction of conventional weapons. Last September, President Jiang Zemin announced that on the basis of the reduction of one million troops in the 1980s, China would further cut its armed forces by 500,000 in the next three years. This is another significant and concrete disarmament move taken by the Chinese Government unilaterally.
GENERAL VIEWS ON THE CD
Mr. President,
Over the years, the CD and its predecessors have made significant contributions to the conclusion of a series of multilateral arms control and disarmament treaties, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Convention on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof, the BWC and the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques. With the above achievements, the CD; and the Council Chamber in the Palais des Nations captured international spotlight. From the late 1980s to 1996, through intensive negotiations, the CD went on to conclude two more important treaties, the CWC and the CTBT. The CD can rightly take pride in its achievements, and this has made the international community place even greater expectations on its ability to break new ground.
Since then, however, the CD has for more than a year been unable to reach a consensus on its next objective for arms control and disarmament. As a result, initial enthusiasm and high expectations begin to give way to disappointment and even criticism, such as claiming that the CD has plunged into a deepening crisis and its fate is currently at a cross-road, or even calling for shutting shop and starting afresh in search of a shortcut for negotiating new multilateral arms control and disarmament treaties outside the CD.
China believes that, as the sole multilateral negotiating forum for arms control and disarmament, the CD retains its irreplaceable status and role. The international community needs the CD, and any attempt to weaken or replace it is hardly conducive to the progress in disarmament or to world peace and security. The CD encompasses all militarily significant countries. Therefore, only the treaties concluded within this framework can enjoy wide representation and universality. Though the CD is the most authoritative multilateral arms control negotiating body, it should not be expected to conclude a new treaty every two or three years. Progress follows its own course. And like a tide, it has its highs and lows. The conclusion of a treaty is only the final stage of a long process of endeavours, while prior explorations and preparations are also part and parcel of such process.
The CD members are currently exploring the next arms control and disarmament agreement or treaty to be negotiated. It is only natural that in such a process there are different views and ideas. This calls for adequate exchange of views and the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences before a consensus can be reached in a gradual manner and on a realistic basis. If an agreement cannot be achieved for the time being, further consultations and dialogues may be pursued. In the end, success will be within our reach. As the Chinese saying goes, when a melon is ripe, it falls off its stem. And, where water flows, a channel is formed. This, of course, does not mean that those issues vital to the world peace and security should remain unresolved indefinitely. We should redouble our efforts, "seize the day, seize the hour".
Mr. President,
Now I would like to state the views and comments of the Chinese delegation on some agenda items of the CD.
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
The "cessation of nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament" is the first agenda item of the CD. It is also an issue to which all countries attach great importance. China has always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. It opposes the nuclear arms race and the policy of nuclear deterrence. Since the very first day when it came into possession of nuclear weapons, China has undertaken not to be the first to use such weapons at any time and under any circumstances It has also made unilateral and unconditional commitment not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China has all along supported the efforts of non-nuclear-weapon states to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones on a voluntary basis. Therefore, China's nuclear weapons do not constitute a threat to any country. China has always exercised extreme self-restraint on the development of nuclear weapons. It actively participated in the CTBT negotiations and signed the treaty, and supports the commencement of negotiations in the CD on a convention banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.
At present, the countries possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenals should continue to fulfill their special responsibilities and obligations for nuclear disarmament. They should carry out further drastic reductions of their nuclear arsenals, abandon the strategy of nuclear deterrence, stop the research in and development of outer space weapons, and refrain from the development, deployment and proliferation of missile defense systems, which undermine the global strategic security and stability. This would create necessary conditions for all the nuclear-weapon states to participate in the nuclear disarmament negotiation process in the future.
Some members of the CD have already put forward a series of proposals on the establishment of working mechanisms for nuclear disarmament. The aspiration of the international community for nuclear disarmament and a nuclear-weapon-free world merits support and understanding. The Chinese delegation hopes that on the basis of full exchange of views, a commonly acceptable formula can be found to address and discuss nuclear disarmament in the CD, and we will support such endeavours.
THE CUT-OFF CONVENTION
Mr. President,
China maintains that the conclusion of a convention on the prohibition of fissile material for nuclear weapons will be conducive to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and promotion of nuclear disarmament, a shared responsibility of every member of the international community.
We support the commencement of negotiations on the cut-off convention in the CD on the basis of the mandate contained in the "Shannon Report" on which a consensus was reached after full consultations, with a view to concluding a non-discriminatory multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable convention on the prohibition of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, as requested by the UNGA resolution 48/75L. The future convention should be fair, reasonable and universal.
PREVENTION OF AN ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE
Mr. President,
Outer space belongs to the whole mankind and should be used solely for peaceful purposes for the benefit of humanity. All countries, especially those with advanced space capabilities should refrain from the development of outer space weapons. They should take concrete actions to prevent an arms race in outer space.
It is a shared view of the international community that the existing international legal instruments related to outer space are far from adequate for effective prevention of an arms race in outer space. Like other countries, China is concerned about some activities in the development and testing of components of outer space weapons or weapon systems in recent years. These activities are designed to use outer space for consolidating and strengthening military superiority on the ground, thus running counter to the fundamental principle of peaceful use of outer space. They undermine regional and global strategic balance, jeopardize peace, security and stability, and harbor the potential danger of turning outer space eventually into a battlefield.
In view of the above, the "prevention of an arms race in outer space" has become an actual and urgent issue. As the distinguished Ambassador of Sri Lanka rightly pointed out at the plenary on February 5th, if we do not negotiate on the "prevention of an arms race in outer space" now, we will probably be compelled to negotiate on "disarmament in outer space" and "prevention of the proliferation of outer space weapons" in the near future.
The Chinese delegation maintains that the CD should reestablish the Ad Hoc Committee on prevention of an arms race in outer space. We also support the appointment of a special coordinator, as the first step, to organize discussions and consultations on issues related to outer space, with a view to reestablishing the Ad Hoc Committee to conduct negotiations on the prohibition of an arms race in outer space. The Chinese delegation will take an active part in the relevant deliberations and will expound China' s position on this issue.
NEGATIVE SECURITY ASSURANCES
Mr. President,
The new international situation since the end of the Cold War should have provided new opportunities for resolving the issue of negative security assurances (NSA). The nuclear-weapon states concerned should reconsider and readjust their nuclear policy and adopt more positive, fair and reasonable attitude towards the issue of providing security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states. the
China believes that the great number of non-nuclear-weapon states are completely reasonable and justified in seeking security assurances under which the nuclear-weapon states undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against them. The most effective security assurances should be the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. Pending the realization of this ultimate objective, the nuclear-weapon states should undertake unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. In addition to aforementioned commitment, "negative security assurances" should also include the commitment by nuclear-weapon states to no-first-use of nuclear weapons against each other. The Chinese delegation supports the early establishment of the NSA Ad-Hoc Committee to negotiate and conclude an international legal instrument.
ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES
Mr. President,
China has always taken seriously the humanitarian concerns caused by landmines, and support imposing appropriate, reasonable and feasible restrictions on landmines, anti-personnel landmines (APLs) in particular. We took an active part in the amendment of the Landmine Protocol to the Certain Conventional Weapons Convention (CCW) and made our due contribution to it. Currently, China is making active preparations for an early ratification of the new Protocol.
Mine clearance constitutes an important aspect in resolving the . .
problem of indiscriminate harming of civilians by landmines and, as such, a most urgent task facing the international community. China has always attached importance to this issue. Over the years China has made enormous and effective efforts in mine clearance on its territory and in assisting international demining activities. Five years ago, a large-scale: demining campaign was carried out in certain areas in China, with more the than one million landmines cleared. A second demining campaign was launched in China last November. We will continue to participate actively in international demining efforts.
Generally speaking, when resolving the landmine issue, a balance should be struck between humanitarian concerns and legitimate requirements of sovereign states for self-defence. Landmines remain an indispensable defensive weapon for many countries. China cannot but reserve its legitimate right to use APLs on its own territories to establish defensive capabilities before alternative means can be found.
China understands and respects the sovereign choice of those countries which have signed the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Landmines. However, it is neither realistic nor possible to compel the non-signatories of the Ottawa Convention to accept it here in the CD. On February 5th, Finland, on behalf of 23 countries, presented a draft decision on the appointment of a special coordinator on the APL issue. Among these countries, there are signatories as well as non-signatories of the Ottawa Convention. If all parties concerned agree to the reappointment the of such special coordinator, the Chinese delegation can go along with it. We hope that a consensus can soon be reached on the relevant mandate.
Mr. President,
I would like to reiterate that the Chinese delegation has always attached great importance to the CD, a widely representative multilateral negotiating forum for arms control and disarmament. We have all along participated in the work of the CD in a responsible and constructive manner and will continue to do so in future. Whether the CD can accomplish its tasks and live up to the expectations of the international community depends on the support and joint efforts of all its members. It is our sincere hope that the CD be responsive to the new trends in the international situation and redouble its efforts to make new contributions to world peace and security.
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
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
