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Statement at the Conference on Disarmament
6 April 1995
(CD/PV.705)
Mr. President, please allow me to congratulate you warmly on taking up the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. The Chinese delegation would like to pledge to you that as always it will make every effort in rendering full cooperation to you and to all the other delegations for the cause of promoting peace, security and disarmament. I wish also to take this opportunity to thank Her Excellency Mrs. Hisami Kurokochi, the distinguished Ambassador of Japan, for her outstanding contribution during her tenure of the presidency of the CD last month. Furthermore, I would like to tell the distinguished Ambassador of Mexico, Ambassador Marin Bosch, how sorry we are to see him leave. As the representative of Mexico and as a colleague in our Conference, he has made major contributions to the cause of the work of the CD. I would also like to extend a welcome to the newly appointed Ambassador of Pakistan, Ambassador Akram. With his rich experience in the field of multilateral diplomacy and on the basis of the outstanding work done by his able predecessor Ambassador Kamal, he will certainly contribute new achievements to the work of the CD.
Upon the instructions of the Chinese Government, I hereby deliver the national statement of China on the provision of security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States, which was made yesterday in Beijing by the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The full text is as follows:
"1. China undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances.
"2. China undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones at any time or under any circumstances. This commitment naturally applies to non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or non-nuclear-weapon States that have undertaken any comparable internationally binding commitments not to manufacture or acquire nuclear explosive devices.
"3. China has always held that pending the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, all nuclear-weapon States should undertake not to be the first to use nuclear weapons and not to use or threaten to use such weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones at any time or under any circumstances. China strongly calls for the early conclusion of an international convention banning the first use of nuclear weapons as well as an international legal instrument on assuring non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.
"4. China, as a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations, undertakes to take action within the Council in order that the Council can take appropriate measures to provide, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, necessary assistance to any non-nuclear-weapon State that comes under attack with nuclear weapons, and to impose strict and effective sanctions on the attacking State. This commitment naturally applies to any non-nuclear-weapon State party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or any non-nuclear-weapon State that has undertaken any comparable international binding commitments not to manufacture or acquire nuclear explosive devices, in the event of aggression with nuclear weapons or the threat of such aggression against the State.
"5. The 'positive security assurance' provided by China, as contained in paragraph 4, does not in any way compromise China's position as contained in paragraph 3 and shall not in any way be construed as endorsing the use of nuclear weapons."
Mr. President, I would be grateful if you would arrange for the distribution of the above statement as an official document of the Conference on Disarmament.
In 10 days' time we shall convene the review and extension Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. As China is a nuclear-weapon State, I now wish to take this opportunity to elaborate on some basic positions on issues related to the NPT.
China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and consistently upholds the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and all other types of weapons of mass destruction. In order to realize this objective and maintain international peace, security and stability, and in response to the aspiration and request of the non-nuclear-weapon States, China joined the NPT on 9 March 1992. As a State party, China has since strictly abided by the Treaty and fulfilled in real earnest the obligations set out in the NPT.
As a nuclear-weapon State, China resolutely supports the three main objectives of the NPT. In the prevention of nuclear-weapon proliferation, China pursues the policy of not advocating, encouraging or engaging in nuclear-weapon proliferation and not assisting any State in the development of such weapons, and, proceeding from this policy, has formulated a strict and effective nuclear export control regime of her own. In the field of nuclear disarmament, China stands for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all types of weapons of mass destruction worldwide, including nuclear weapons. China has made specific proposals in this regard. In the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, China, subject to the international safeguards, has carried out to the best of her abilities equal and mutually beneficial international cooperation with various countries, the developing countries in particular.
It is China's firm belief that pending the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, efforts for the prevention of nuclear-weapon proliferation are beneficial to the maintenance of international peace and security. Such efforts are therefore of great significance. At the same time, China also believes that nuclear non-proliferation is not the ultimate objective by itself, but, rather, a necessary measure and step in the process of realizing the goal of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons.
As a State party to the NPT, China supports a smooth extension of the Treaty. In the meantime, China is of the view that the mere extension of the Treaty is far from sufficient. What is more important is to conclude a convention on the comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons, like the BWC and CWC, so as to bring about a genuine nuclear-weapon-free world and provide the fundamental assurance for mankind to rid itself of the threat of nuclear war. For this ultimate goal, China stands for the following.
First, all nuclear-weapon-possessing States should declare that they undertake unconditionally not to be the first to use nuclear weapons and that they will negotiate and sign a, treaty banning the first use of nuclear weapons as soon as possible. The international community should support the efforts towards the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones. All nuclear-weapon States should undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones. In this respect, the Conference on Disarmament should immediately commence relevant negotiations so as to conclude legally binding international instruments.
Second, the Conference on Disarmament should intensify its negotiations and strive to conclude a comprehensive test-ban treaty no later than 1996. It should also begin at an early date the negotiations on a convention banning the production of fissile material for nuclear-weapon purposes.
Third, all nuclear-weapon States should commit themselves to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. To this end, they are duty-bound to participate in the negotiations on a convention on the comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons, and to sign and implement such a convention under effective international supervision. In this regard, the major nuclear-weapon States should implement their existing nuclear disarmament treaties to schedule and proceed to further drastic cuts in their respective nuclear arsenals.
Fourth, alongside their efforts for nuclear-weapon non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, all countries should actively promote international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The above interrelated elements make up an integrated process of nuclear disarmament. China believes that both nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States have the right to participate fully in that process. By making their best endeavours in this direction, the nuclear-weapon States will also be fulfilling by actual deeds their obligations provided for in article VI of the NPT.
Since mankind has been able to make nuclear weapons and tap nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in the twentieth century, it will certainly be able to comprehensively ban and destroy nuclear weapons and fully harness nuclear energy to enhance its own well-being in the twenty-first century. China wishes to work together with other nuclear-weapon and all non-nuclear-weapon States and make its own contribution for the ultimate realization of this lofty goal.
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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