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Strengthening International Cooperation, Safeguarding World Security
Speech by Mr. Liu Jieyi, Director-General of Arms Control and Disarmament Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, at the Twelfth Annual International Arms Control Conference Sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, 19 April 2002)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to thank Sandia National Laboratories for inviting me
to attend this conference. It offers me a good opportunity to exchange views
with senior officials and eminent scholars from various countries. At the outset
of the new century, the international security situation has been fluid and seen
dramatic changes. The global strategic landscape is transforming, and the
international security environment is facing new challenges. The discussion here
of issues bearing on international peace and security is, therefore, timely and
important. I highly appreciate the arrangements made by the sponsor of the
conference.
The tragedy on September 11th goes down in history as a thought-provoking event.
Its impact on global security will be long-term and far-reaching. It shows that
with the rapid development of information technology and deepening globalization
today, unpredictability in global security and instability arising therefrom is
sharply increasing. Security threats tend to be diversified and
internationalized. Non-traditional security threats from non-state actors, such
as terrorism and transnational crimes, have come to the fore, taking the place
of geo-political-based inter-state confrontation as the biggest challenge to
world peace and security.
The September 11th incident has compelled every country to rethink about the
international security environment and its national security strategy. As James
Russell Lowell, a famous American poet and diplomat in the 19th century said,
"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by
the blade or the handle." The devastation and challenges brought about by the
tragedy should be translated into a call and indeed an opportunity for
international cooperation. It is the common mission of the international
community to rise up to the new challenges and to foster a stable and secure
global strategic environment.
The conclusions that can be drawn from the incident are multi-fold. An important
one is that, in the new situation, no country is immune from security threats or
is able to achieve absolute security by acting alone, and international
cooperation is the only path to world peace and security. We therefore need a
new security concept, one that seeks security through cooperation, dialogue,
mutual trust and common development. Concerted efforts and cooperation of the
international community as well as comprehensive measures should be pursued,
rather than resorting to unilateralism or the use of force. Only in this way can
the international community effectively counter global security challenges and
achieve common and lasting security.
International cooperation requires a sound legal framework. As an old Chinese
saying goes, "Only by yardsticks can flatness and straightness be told; only by
rulers and compasses can squares and circles be made." In today's terms, it
means that only by adhering to the norms of international law and ensuring a
solid political and legal foundation for international cooperation, can
uncertainty be reduced and stability enhanced in the international situation,
and can solutions be found to problems in the area of international security. As
for arms control and disarmament, thanks to the efforts by the international
community over the past decades, a fairly comprehensive legal system has been
established. This system has become part and parcel of the global collective
security architecture centered on the United Nations. It has played an
important role in maintaining world peace and security, and has provided
necessary predictability and stability to the evolution of the global strategic
landscape. It is unwise and shortsighted to undermine it for narrow
self-interest. Such an approach serves neither global security and stability
nor any country's long-term interest.
International cooperation offers the only correct and effective way to prevent
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of
delivery. The non-traditional security threats，as
demonstrated by the terrorist attacks and the anthrax incidents, have
highlighted the importance and urgency of preventing such proliferation. As the
causes of proliferation are complex，the
solution should be sought within the collective security framework by enhancing
international cooperation and building up a fair and effective international
non-proliferation regime with universal participation. A simplified approach,
such as pressure, sanctions or even threat of force, will not resolve the
problem, but rather undermine cooperation and be counter-productive for
non-proliferation and even global peace and stability.
The international nuclear non-proliferation efforts benefit from progress in
nuclear disarmament. The Cold War mindset must be abandoned in order to promote
nuclear disarmament. However, abandoning the Cold War mindset is not to
abrogate arms control treaties concluded in that era. Instead, it is to move
beyond the concept that based national security on unilateral military
advantage. Furthermore, it is necessary to abandon the deterrence policy based
on the first use of nuclear weapons and the policy to lower the nuclear
threshold against other states. The role of nuclear weapons should be less, not
more. Those nuclear disarmament measures proven to be effective in the past
should be maintained so as to ensure a verifiable and irreversible nuclear
disarmament process.
Preventing outer space from becoming another arena of arms race is an urgent
task for the international community in the new century. Outer space is the
common heritage of all humanity that should be used for peaceful purposes.
Weaponization of outer space will not only impede its peaceful use, but also
bring about unprecedented harm to the global strategic stability. The
international community, therefore, should take preventive steps and enhance
cooperation in concluding an international legal instrument to prevent the
weaponization of or an arms race in outer space at an early date.
Now, I would turn briefly to China's policy on arms control, disarmament and
non-proliferation. China always advocates the comprehensive prohibition and
thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. Since the first day when it came into
possession of nuclear weapons, China has unilaterally undertaken no-first-use of
nuclear weapons anytime and under any circumstances, and unconditionally
committed itself not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against
non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China has always
exercised the utmost restraint in the development of nuclear weapons, and will
continue to do so. China has no intention to threaten any country's security,
nor will it be party to any arms race. For a period of time, China's position
on missile defense has attracted wide attention. I would like to emphasize that
China's position on the US development of missile defense systems is out of the
concern for global strategic stability and the international arms control
process. We are ready to continue to discuss these issues with US colleagues.
China has actively supported international arms control and disarmament
treaties, the multilateral arms control and disarmament process, and
international non-proliferation efforts and consistently calls for broad
participation of the international community in establishing and strengthening
multilateral non-proliferation regimes. China is firmly committed to the NPT and
is playing a constructive role in the PrepCom. About two weeks ago, the Chinese
Government notified the IAEA that it has completed the legal procedure to
implement the "93+2" protocol aimed at strengthening the IAEA safeguard system.
The protocol has entered into force for China since March 28. China supports
the effective implementation of the CWC and the smooth functioning of the OPCW.
We call for the resumption of the multilateral process to work out ways to
enhance the effectiveness of and ensure compliance with the BWC. The Chinese
Government is working towards the early ratification of the CTBT. China has
always supported the early conclusion of FMCT and hopes that the Conference on
Disarmament in Geneva will soon get into substantive work on PAROS, FMCT,
nuclear disarmament and security assurances under an agreed and balanced agenda.
In accordance with its treaty obligations and current international practices,
the Chinese Government in recent years has been improving its export controls on
sensitive items and technologies in nuclear, biological and chemical fields.
China does not help any country develop ballistic missiles that can be used to
deliver WMDs. At present, China's nuclear export controls are comprehensive.
China is intensifying efforts to put in place an export control list on
missiles and missile technology and to increase the scope of its chemical and
biological export controls.
Changes and developments in the international situation in the 21st century call
for and indeed open up broad prospects for international cooperation. So long
as the international community join hands and strengthen cooperation, we are
certain to create a more peaceful and secure world for all. China will continue
to contribute to this end.
Thank you.
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.
