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Statement by Sha Zukang,
Chinese Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament
8 June 1995
(CD/PV. 707)
(Translated from Chinese)
Mr. President, I am very pleased to see you continue to preside over the work of the second part of the conference. I am convinced that through the common efforts of all delegations this session will make significant progress. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the newly arrived Ambassadors of Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Finland and Turkey, and express regret at the imminent departure of the Canadian Ambassador.
Several representatives of countries protected by a nuclear umbrella and belonging to military alliances have just spoken, mentioning the recent nuclear test conducted by China. Here I would like to reiterate the position of the Chinese Government on this matter.
China understands the concerns of the non-nuclear-weapon States on the question of nuclear tests. It has always held that a ban on nuclear testing, like no-first-use of nuclear weapons, non-use or threatened use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States, and non-proliferation measures, is a step towards the complete prohibition and total eradication of nuclear weapons. In this regard we are pleased to see that negotiations on the CTBT are making real progress. We hope these negotiations will proceed smoothly and the treaty can be concluded no later than 1996.
On the matter of nuclear testing, China has always exercised the utmost restraint, an attitude that has never changed in response to a particular time or event. Although in the history of its nuclear testing it has on many occasions applied a de facto moratorium, we have our own views on moratoriums and have therefore never declared one. Compared to the major nuclear Powers with the largest, most advanced nuclear arsenals, which have conducted thousands of tests, China's testing has been extremely limited and restrained. China has played a positive and serious part in the CTBT negotiations and given repeated undertakings that, once the treaty takes effect, it will abide by it and desist from testing. As always, it will work alongside the other members of the CD for the early conclusion of a good CTBT.
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