 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Statement by H.E. Mr. Qian Qichen,
Vice Premier and Foreign Minister and
Head of Delegation of the People's Republic of China
at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties
to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
18 April 1995
Mr. President,
I would like to begin by warmly congratulating you on your election to the presidency of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. I am convinced that with your outstanding talent and rich experience, you will fulfill this important mission with distinction. I wish to thank the chairmen of the four sessions of the preparatory committee for their positive contribution to the smooth convocation of the Conference. I would also like to congratulate other officers of the Conference on their election.
Mr. President,
We are at the turn of the century. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the victory of the anti-fascist war and the founding of the United Nations. It is an important historic opportunity for us to review the past and look into the future. The first half of this century witnessed two world wars which brought untold sufferings to mankind, while the latter half experienced decades of cold war, which placed the world under the threat of war. Nuclear weapons made their first appearance 50 years ago towards the end of the Second World War and were used twice. The ensuing cold war was accompanied by the ever escalating nuclear arms race between the two super powers. As a result, over the past 50 years after the War, the peoples of all countries in the world have lived under the shadow of threat of nuclear war. All this has deeply and adversely affected the socio-economic development of each and every country in the world.
Now the cold war has come to an end, but the huge nuclear arsenals still exist. What people now have in mind is: Since mankind is able to invent and manufacture nuclear weapons, they should certainly be able to destroy them thoroughly as well.
Mr. President,
It is against such a backdrop that we are here convening the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the NPT. We will review the implementation of the Treaty and decide on its extension. NPT was concluded 25 years ago under the historical conditions prevailing then. We support its three major objectives, namely, promotion of nuclear disarmament, prevention of nuclear weapon proliferation, and enhancement of international cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. With the passage of time, NPT has become the most universal treaty in the field of arms control and has played a positive role in containing nuclear weapon proliferation over the years. To reaffirm these three objectives in the new international situation is in the common interest of all States Parties, in that it will contribute to the maintenance of international peace, security and stability. That being said, however, it goes without saying that NPT has its limitations and defects. It is unbalanced in certain aspect as it sets out different rights and obligations for different States Parties. We believe, however, that such limitations and defects could be gradually redressed and corrected through continued progress in nuclear disarmament and enhanced cooperation between countries for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Mr. President,
China supports the smooth extension of the NPT. In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty, we now face the choices of indefinite extension, extension by one fixed period or extension by multiple periods. We hold that the option for extension of one fixed period is not desirable. If the option for indefinite extension is chosen, it is our stand that it must be made clear that such an extension should in Do way be interpreted as perpetuating the nuclear weapon States' prerogative to possess nuclear weapons. And should the option for extension by multiple periods is chosen, we hold that each fixed period should not be less than 25 years. Whichever option we are going to take, there should be continued regular reviews of the implementation of the Treaty. It is our belief that, as States Parties, there are more agreements than differences among us. Through constructive cooperation, we shall be able to achieve the smooth extension of the Treaty. We call for intensive consultation and broad agreement among the States Parties in order to adopt the decision on the extension of the Treaty by consensus. In the mean time, we hold that the nuclear-weapon States have the obligation to provide negative and positive security assurances to the non-nuclear-weapon States, which is essential to the extension of NPT. All the above explains China's position on the smooth extension of NPT.
It should be pointed out that the prevention of nuclear weapon proliferation is not an end in itself, but an intermediate step leading toward the ultimate objective of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. I hereby wish to reiterate the consistent position of China, as follows:
First, complete prohibition of nuclear weapons should be the primary objective. A convention on the complete prohibition of nuclear weapons should be concluded in the same way as the conventions banning all biological and chemical weapons. It should provide for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons under effective international supervision.
Second, pending the complete prohibition of nuclear weapons, it is necessary to adopt measures to prevent the threat of nuclear weapons. Nuclear-weapon States should demonstrate their political will by undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons against each other and by undertaking unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-Nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones. The nuclear-weapon States should naturally make such commitments at the earliest possible date. If such commitments are undertaken by concluding treaties or international legal instruments, the possibility of use of nuclear weapons will in effect be eliminated.
Third, a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty should be concluded through negotiations as soon as possible, not later than 1996. A convention banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapon purposes should also be concluded through negotiations. These intermediate steps will facilitate the realization of the ultimate goal of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
China has never shied away from its due obligations for nuclear disarmament. We have undertaken some unilateral obligations not undertaken by any other nuclear-weapon States, namely, not to be the first to use nuclear weapons and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones .
China does not endorse the policy of nuclear deterrence and the nuclear weapons developed by China are solely for self-defense, never meant to pose against or threaten any specific country.
China has all along advocated complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and never joined in the nuclear arms race.
China has exercised restraint in nuclear testing from the very beginning and has conducted fewer nuclear tests than any other nuclear-weapon State.
China calls for the conclusion of a treaty on no-use of nuclear weapons by the nuclear-weapon States, and has presented its draft treaty to the other four nuclear-weapon States.
China and Russia have issued a joint statement, undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons against each other and to detarget their respective nuclear weapons away from each other.
China welcomes the U.N. Security Council resolution on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States concerned adopted on April 11 and hopes that unconditional security assurances will be provided to all non-nuclear-weapon States at an early date in the form of an international legal instrument.
China issued a statement on April 5 to reaffirm its unconditional negative security assurances to all non Nuclear-weapon States and to undertake to provide positive security assurances to these states. China has also issued governmental statements to provide security assurances to Ukraine and Kazakhstan upon their requests.
China supports the efforts of relevant countries and regions to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones or zones free of weapons of mass destruction through voluntary consultations. By signing the relevant protocols to the Treaty of Tlatelolco in 1973 and the Treaty of Rarotonga in 1987, China has undertaken specific commitments to the nuclear-weapon-free zones of Latin America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. We welcome the African countries to conclude a treaty on the nuclear-weapon-free zone of Africa.
China is making positive efforts for an early conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty and supports the negotiation on and conclusion of a convention banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapon purposes.
Mr. President,
In order to realize the objective of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, it is necessary for the international Community to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons. China supports the universality of the NPT and also hopes that the safeguards system of the IAEA will be more rational and effective.
China has all along pursued the policy of not endorsing, encouraging or engaging in nuclear weapon proliferation and not assisting other countries in developing nuclear weapons. In the field of nuclear export, we adhere to three principles. First, the export should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. Second, the export should be subject to IAEA safeguards. And third, the export should not be retransferred to a third country without China's consent. All our nuclear exports are under IAEA safeguards.
China believes that the promotion of international cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy constitutes an important aspect in fulfilling the NPT obligations. deserve the same attention as other provisions of the Treaty. The prevention of nuclear weapon proliferation should facilitate, rather than impede, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by the developing countries and should contribute to exercising their legitimate rights for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In preventing nuclear weapon proliferation and utilizing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it is inadmissible to apply double standards.
China, a developing country with some nuclear industrial capabilities, actively conducts mutually beneficial international cooperation for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It has carried out fruitful exchanges and cooperation with the IAEA in many fields and signed governmental agreements of cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with 14 countries. It has provided assistance to some developing countries to the best of its ability while actively cooperating with the developed countries. With the further implementation of the policy of reform and opening-up and economic growth, China will surely expand and enhance its international cooperation for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Mr. President,
With the advent of the 21st century, we now face a historic choice as to what kind of a world we should bring to the new century. Since this century is marked by world wars, the cold war and nuclear arms race, it is entirely justifiable to demand that human wisdom and creativity not be wrongly used any further to threaten the very survival of mankind itself. We have every reason to hope for a new century that promises enhanced peace and development, a new century in which mankind can finally rid itself of the shadow of threat of nuclear weapons while harnessing nuclear energy for the benefit of all. China is ready to work with all other countries to seize this historic opportunity and make unremitting efforts for such a better century.
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.
