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Statement by Ambassador Sha Zukang, Head of the Chinese Delegation, 5th Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction
19 November 2001, Geneva
Mr. President,
It is a great pleasure for the Chinese delegation to
have this opportunity to join other delegations in
Geneva to review the operation of the Convention on the
Prohibition of Biological Weapons and such issues as how
to strengthen the effectiveness of the Convention. First
of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese
delegation, to extend to you our warmest congratulations
on your assumption of the presidency of the Conference.
With your rich experience in diplomacy and disarmament
and your outstanding skills, I believe you will make
valuable contribution to the Conference. Let me assure
you of the fullest cooperation on the part of the
Chinese delegation in an effort to make our contribution
to the success of the Conference.
Mr. President,
Five years ago at the 4th Review Conference, I made a
statement right here on behalf of the Chinese delegation
in which I elaborated the positions and views of the
Chinese government and enumerated the “substantive
progress” achieved in the field of arms control and
disarmament. I can say it was a statement full of
confidence. Today when I come back here to speak again
as the head of the Chinese delegation, all sorts of
feelings well up in my mind.
In the course of the 5 years, international situation
went through complicated and profound changes. On the
one hand, enhancing dialogue and cooperation,
maintaining world peace, and seeking common development
reflect the shared interests and common choice of more
and more countries. On the other hand, the two major
issues of world peace and development remain unresolved.
The world is far from being a peaceful place. Elements
of uncertainty are getting increasingly salient in
international situation. Democratization of
international relations remains to be accomplished. In
the field of international arms control and disarmament,
the integrity and authority of well-established
international disarmament legal system are being
undermined. A particular case in point is the ABM
Treaty. This instrument of vital importance to
international strategic balance and stability is
threatened with abandonment. How to maintain and promote
disarmament process has become a matter of concern to
all countries.
For a while, we consoled ourselves with the fact that,
despite all the difficulties encountered in the process
of international arms control and disarmament,
considerable progress had been achieved in the
negotiations for a protocol for the purpose of
strengthening the effectiveness of the Convention.
Still, we were let down eventually. Why did it happen?
What can we do about it? These are the questions that
must be answered at this Review Conference. In the wake
of the September 11 event and a series of anthrax
contaminations, at a time when the real threat of
bio-terrorism looms large, the last thing we should do
is to evade these questions. In this sense, the results
of this Review Conference will undoubtedly have
long-term impact on the effectiveness of the Convention.
Now, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, I would like
to make some comments on the general operation of the
Convention.
Mr. President,
This Convention is the first international disarmament
treaty that bans an entire category of weapons of mass
destruction. For more than 20 years, the Convention has
played an important role in the complete prohibition and
thorough destruction of biological weapons and the
prevention of their proliferation. Over the past 5
years, the implementation of the Convention is good on
the whole. States parties have by and large complied
with the provisions of the Convention and have
implemented the measures formulated for this purpose. It
must be pointed out, however, that some practices and
tendencies shown in the process of implementation
deserve our attention.
First, on the standard of implementation. The Chinese
delegation has noticed that in the process of fulfilling
the obligations under and enhancing the effectiveness of
the Convention, a few states parties would more often
than not, either wittingly or unwittingly, pose
themselves as lecturers. They are always suspicious of
the normal scientific research and production activities
under the Convention carried out by other states parties
in the area of biology, while frequently lecturing
others. They remain silent about their own relevant
activities and facilities. By way of analogy, this is
like a man with a flashlight in hand only to cast light
on others while he himself stays in the dark. In the
implementation of the Convention, there is only one
standard to follow: the provisions of the Convention. It
should not and will not be allowed to apply double or
multiple standards.
Secondly, on the relationship between the prevention of
proliferation and international cooperation. Both the
prevention of the proliferation of biological weapons
and the promotion of the peaceful use of biological
technology constitute the purposes and objectives of the
Convention. They should be complementary and mutually
reinforcing. However, we have noted with regret that a
minority of countries have gone out of their way to
separate the two issues. They focus exclusively on the
prevention of proliferation, while adopting a negative
attitude towards international cooperation, stubbornly
sticking to existing discriminatory practices, and, they
went as far as to hampering or undermining international
cooperation by using the prevention of proliferation as
a pretext. Such practices are detrimental not only to
the legitimate rights of states parties, in particular
of the developing states parties to engage in exchanges
and cooperation, but also to the realization of the
objective of the prevention of proliferation.
Thirdly, on the issue of unilateralism vs.
multilateralism. At present, when the issue of security
is becoming increasingly a cross-cutting and global
issue, the interdependence among various countries in
this field is augmenting as well as their common
grounds. In fact, it is very difficult for a country to
ensure its security with its own efforts alone, however
powerful it may be. Absolute security for one country is
even less achievable. Under such circumstances, the
enhancement of international cooperation is the only way
to effectively meet the challenges of global security
and to realize comprehensive and lasting security. Yet
it has been noted again with regret that a certain
country, relying on the strength of its enormous
economic and military capabilities, often takes a
utilitarian and unilateral approach towards efforts in
the implementation of obligations and the enhancement of
the effectiveness of the Convention. History has proved
and will continue to prove that in an interdependent
world, the complete prohibition of all biological
weapons, the elimination of the threat of biological
warfare and the prevention of related proliferation
require the participation and efforts of all members of
the international community. Unilateralism will never
succeed, on the contrary, it will aggravate the
problems.
It is the view of the Chinese delegation that the
above-mentioned negative tendencies or practices are not
conducive to the realization of the purposes and
objectives of the Convention and they must be rectified.
My delegation will further elaborate on our views and
suggestions in future deliberations on specific issues.
Mr. President,
The conclusion of a protocol through negotiations to
strengthen the effectiveness of the Convention is the
common objective and long-standing aspiration of the
international community. We recall that from the time
when we reached the agreement in the early 1990s among
states parties to set up an expert group to study
relevant issues till the establishment of the Ad Hoc
Group to conduct negotiations which resulted in the
rolling text of the protocol before us today, we have
covered a long and tortuous road. The rolling text has
been formulated on the basis of 24 sessions of the Ad
Hoc Group and nearly 500 working documents. Various
parties have made tremendous efforts, thus demonstrating
the political will and determination of the states
parties to strengthen the effectiveness of the
Convention.
Obviously, on some issues the states parties do have
differences of views, some of which will become more
evident in the late stages of negotiations. This is
actually normal in any negotiations. Differences of
views are the precise reason for negotiations and can
only be resolved through negotiations. However, at the
critical juncture of the common efforts to iron out
these differences, the negotiations were suddenly
interrupted due to one single state party. The protocol
that had great hope of conclusion is facing the threat
of being scrapped. This is neither fair nor reasonable.
We all remember clearly that this very state party in
this very forum once called vociferously on the
international community to conclude a protocol as early
as possible and even no later than 1998.
Mr. President,
The Chinese delegation has always maintained that the
conclusion of a balanced and effective protocol through
multilateral negotiations is the only feasible way to
comprehensively strengthen the effectiveness of the
Convention. We are glad to note that the overwhelming
majority of states parties still stand for maintaining
the existing mechanism and mandate of the ad hoc group
and support continued negotiations within the
multilateral framework in order to formulate measures
for strengthening the effectiveness of the Convention.
My delegation is willing to make joint efforts with the
international community to this end. We welcome any
proposals made by states parties within the multilateral
framework to comprehensively strengthen the Convention.
At the same time it is our view that no proposal should
only benefit one while impairing the interests of other
states parties, nor should it obstruct the applications
and international cooperation in the civilian biological
field. In fact, the establishment of Ad Hoc Group and
its mandate reflected the consensus of all parties after
years of hard work.
Mr. President,
The September 11 event showed in a forceful way that
terrorism was the common threat of the international
community, seriously threatening world peace and
stability. With bio-terrorism already becoming a real
threat, one of the most effective ways to combat it is
to work within the multilateral framework and conclude
through negotiations a reasonable, feasible and
effective protocol on the basis of the existing mandate
in order to strengthen the effectiveness of the
Convention and enhance international cooperation.
Mr. President,
In recent years, the rapid development in bio-technology
has made tremendous achievement which brings great
opportunities as well as big challenges for mankind. On
the one hand, the bio-technology, with unlimited
potentials, has already benefited and will continue to
benefit mankind. On the other hand, we must not lose
sight of the possibility that the mismanagement of the
same technology could expose mankind to even greater
threat from biological weapons. The Chinese government
remains convinced that all scientific and technological
development in the biological field should only serve
peaceful purposes in the interest of mankind. The issue
of how to turn challenges into opportunities should be
one of the topics to be considered at this session.
Mr. President,
Once the victim of biological and chemical weapons,
China is in favor of the complete prohibition and the
thorough destruction of biological and chemical weapons.
China firmly opposes the proliferation of these types of
weapons, by whatever means, to any country, entity or
individual. Based on this very position, the Chinese
government attaches great importance to the Convention
and has always abided strictly by its provisions in a
serious and comprehensive manner. China has never
developed, produced, stockpiled, acquired or possessed
by any other means biological agents, toxins, related
equipment or technologies in contravention of the
purposes and objectives of the Convention. China has
never encouraged nor enticed any country, group of
countries or international organization by any means to
produce or acquire the above-mentioned items. China has
already instituted a full set of laws and regulations to
prevent the non-peaceful use of dual-use biological
agents and related technologies.
China has actively participated in those activities on
confidence-building measures as agreed upon at previous
Review Conferences of the Convention. Since 1988, China
has submitted to the United Nations, on an annual basis,
information on confidence-building measures since its
accession to the Convention.
China supports the effort to strengthen the
effectiveness of the Convention. To this end, China has,
since 1991, deeply involved itself in in-depth studies
and exploration of possible verification measures within
the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts. Since 1995,
along with all sides, China has actively and
constructively participated in the negotiations on the
drafting of the Protocol in the Ad Hoc Group, and has
made positive contributions.
Given the importance China attaches to its development
and progress in the biological field, China strives to
promote international co-operation and exchange with
other states parties in the peaceful use of biological
technology. The results of these fruitful exchanges have
contributed positively to the medical, health and
scientific research work in China and the world. The
annex to China’s 2001 report on Implementation has set
out those exchanges and cooperation in more details.
Mr. President,
China attaches great importance to this session of the
Review Conference. It is our hope that the conference
will give a fair and objective consideration on the
implementation of the Convention for the last five
years. We also hope that those unhealthy tendencies and
problems which are not conducive to the implementation
could be redressed and resolved, and that guidance for
future direction would be given to the international
community. The Chinese delegation believes that, as
States Parties to the Convention, we all share the same
goal and objective.
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.
