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In recent years, the PRC has continued to emerge as an important player in the negotiation and successful conclusion of a range of arms control treaties. Arms control and nonproliferation have become central components in US-China relations. Although some progress has been made in closing the gaps that divide US and Chinese policies, a better understanding of Chinese behavior in key negotiations demands more complete information about the individuals and institutions involved in the decision-making process.
This manual is intended as a guide to understanding the organizations and bureaucratic processes that shape China's arms control policies. It is not comprehensive, due, in large part, to the lack of transparency that continues to characterize many Chinese institutions. Therefore, in some cases data about organizations and their roles or missions is anecdotal and incomplete. Nevertheless, our understanding of the Chinese system today is more complete than it has ever been, and this trend is expected to continue.
The first edition of this primer was compiled in 1998. However, because of a
large-scale restructuring of China's defense industry that occurred the
following year, it was soon necessary to update and revise many sections and
pages. The current edition, completed in 2003, reflects the 1999 and subsequent
changes, and includes new pages on recently-formed companies and government
bodies. Changes have ranged in scale from minor updates to major re-writes;
however, every page has been revised to some extent. Finally, in order to
provide a sense of continuity, the pages of entities no longer in existence have
been retained, but have been labeled "defunct" to avoid confusion.
[The original author wishes to thank those who commented on earlier drafts of this document, especially Richard Garwin, Bates Gill, Iain Johnston, and Stan Norris.]
Chinese Arms Control Organizations: A Basic Primer
Originally compiled by:
Wendy Frieman
Director of the Asia Technology Project
Science Applications International Corporation
Revised and updated by:
East Asia Nonproliferation Project,
Center for Nonproliferation Studies,
Monterey Institute of International Studies
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.
