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STATEMENT BY THE CHINESE DELEGATION
ON THE ISSUE OF NEGATIVE SECURITY ASSURANCES
Second Session of the 1998 PrepCom for the
2000 NPT Review Conference
6 May 1998, Geneva
Unofficial Translation
Mr Chairman,
China always maintains that the large number of non-nuclear-weapon states are
justified in demanding the nuclear-weapon states to undertake unconditionally
not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against them, since they have
voluntarily forsworn the right to develop nuclear weapons. We believe that the
most effective security assurances for the non-nuclear-weapon states is the
complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, thereby
eliminating the material basis of nuclear threat. Pending the attainment of this
objective, all the nuclear-weapon states should undertake not to use or threaten
to use nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon states under any
circumstances. During the Second NPT Review Conference in 1980, the
non-nuclear-weapon states proposed for the first time to conclude a legally
binding international instrument on negative security assurances (NSA). The
"Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament",
adopted by the 1995 NPT Review Conference, once again calls for the settlement
of the NSA issue in the form of a legally binding international instrument.
Since the very first day when China came into possession of nuclear weapons,
China has solemnly declared that at no time and under no circumstances will it
be the first to use nuclear weapons. China has also undertaken unconditionally
not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states
or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China is the only nuclear-weapon state in the
world that has made and abided by such commitments. We strongly advocate that a
legally binding international instrument be concluded at an early date on no use
or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states.
Mr. Chairman,
The new international situation since the end of the Cold War should have
provided new opportunities for resolving the NSA issue. The overall
international tensions have relaxed, relations among big powers have improved
and, peace and development have become the main theme of the times. Under such
circumstances, the nuclear-weapon states concerned should abandon the Cold War
mentality, reconsider and readjust their nuclear policy and adopt a more
positive, fair and reasonable attitude towards providing security assurances to
non-nuclear-weapon states. We are of the view that when settling the NSA issue,
full consideration should be given to the legitimate interests and demand of the
non-nuclear-weapon states while taking into account the different positions of
the nuclear-weapon states, and there is no reason to impose various obligations
on the non-nuclear-weapon states. NSA is not an unilateral favor but an
obligation of the nuclear-weapon-states towards the non-nuclear-weapon-states.
It is conducive to the improvement of the international security environment,
and thus to the elimination of the incentives for some countries to acquire or
develop nuclear weapons. Therefore, NSA is in the security interests of all
countries.
China holds that in addition to the commitment of the nuclear-weapon-states on
no-use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon states, negative
security assurances should also include the commitment by the nuclear-weapon
states to no-first-use of nuclear weapons against each other, Under the new
international situation, the policy of nuclear deterrence, based on the first
use of nuclear weapons, runs counter to the trend of the times, and is
detrimental to international peace, security and stability. The nuclear-weapon
states concerned should abandon this policy as soon as possible. As early as
994, China officially proposed that a treaty on no-first-use of nuclear weapons
be concluded among the nuclear-weapon states, and put forward a draft for this
purpose. We hope that positive response will be accorded to our proposal at an
early date
Mr. Chairman,
NSA has been an important item on the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament
(CD) pursuant to the relevant resolution of the SSOD I. The CD has for many
years established an Ad Hoc Committee on NSA, and has gained rich experience in
addressing this issue. The UN General Assembly has adopted many resolutions
urging the CD to intensify its efforts to conclude an international NSA
agreement as early as possible. China welcomes the decision of the CD in its
1998 session to re-establish the Ad Hoc Committee on NSA, and hopes that trough
the joint efforts of all parties concerned, a legally binding international
instrument on NSA will be concluded at an early date.
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
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