PRC FM Spokesman News Conference

2 December 2004

Q: The US Government decided to impose sanctions on four Chinese companies,
accusing them of selling Iran military equipment related to weapons of mass
destruction. What comment do you want to make on the US sanctions? Do you
believe these companies did sell the alleged equipment?

A: I wish to brief you on China's position on this question. China adamantly
opposes the proliferation of WMDs and their delivery vehicles. In recent years,
we have set up a complete system of laws and regulations on non-proliferation
export control. We have also taken positive measures to strengthen our law
enforcement. If the illegal export conduct of any Chinese company or individual
is proven by conclusive evidence, the Chinese Government will mete out penalty
in accordance with law.

. . .

Q: As for the American sanctions
against the four Chinese companies, has China conducted an investigation on the
relevant companies? . . .

A: . . .

Regarding the US citing their domestic law to impose sanctions against Chinese
companies, I elaborated on China's position just now. The Chinese government
firmly opposes to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related
delivery vehicles. We have strictly fulfilled our international commitments and
obligations and actively joined in international cooperation on
non-proliferation. In recent years, the Chinese Government has been constantly
strengthening legislation on non-proliferation based on the principle of rule of
law and has enacted and implemented quite a number of laws and regulations,
which form a complete legal system of export control. The Chinese Government
attaches great importance to the law enforcement and has consistently adopted
effective measures to ensure the implementation of these laws and regulations in
real earnest. If there is any tenable evidence to prove illegal export conduct
of any Chinese companies or individuals, the Chinese government will mete out
penalty according to law.

Meanwhile, we firmly oppose any country to impose sanctions on Chinese companies
with their domestic law. We hope the US can bear in mind our international
cooperation on non-proliferation and other fields and not resort to arbitrary
sanctions on Chinese companies."

["English Transcript of PRC FM Spokeperson News Conference," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China, 2 December 2004, FBIS CPP20041203000178]

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.