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Statement by the Chinese Delegation to the 2nd PrepCom for 2005 NPT RevCon on Nuclear Disarmament and Reduction of the Danger of Nuclear War
30 April 2003
Mr. Chairman,
The progress in nuclear disarmament hinges upon global strategic balance and
stability as well as undiminished security for all. To pursue a new security
concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, put in
place a fair and rational international political and economic order will create
a favorable condition for nuclear disarmament. At the same time, China holds
that under the current situation, preserving multilateralism and opposing
unilateralism represent the vital means to safeguard and promote international
arms control and disarmament process, in particular nuclear disarmament.
With regard to nuclear disarmament, the nuclear-weapon States possessing the
largest and the most advanced nuclear arsenals bear special and primary
responsibility. China welcomes the signing of the Treaty between the United
States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions,
also known as the Moscow Treaty. We believe that the reduction of nuclear
weapons should be carried out in accordance with the principles of being
effectively verifiable, irreversible and legally binding, so as to achieve a
genuine reduction and destruction of nuclear warheads and their means of
delivery. Any nuclear disarmament measures, including various interim measures,
should follow the principles of maintaining global strategic stability and
undiminished security for all in a way that is conducive to enhancing
international peace and security.
Mr. Chairman,
It is China’s belief that nuclear weapons should not be aimed at any country,
nor should any state be listed as nuclear strike target. The threshold for using
nuclear weapons should not be lowered. The nuclear-weapon States should
constantly reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their respective national
security policies thus providing impetus for nuclear disarmament.
China is deeply concerned over the growing tendency towards introducing weapons
into outer space. Should it go unchecked, the global strategic balance and
stability will be harmed, the nuclear disarmament process be hampered
subsequently. Therefore, it is an urgent and real task for the Conference on
Disarmament in Geneva (CD) to negotiate and conclude relevant international
legal instrument(s) against the weaponization of and an arms race in outer
space.
Mr. Chairman,
As a nuclear weapon State, China has never shielded away from its responsibility
in nuclear disarmament. China has, with its own action, made unique contribution
to international nuclear disarmament cause.
China has all along advocated a complete prohibition and thorough destruction of
nuclear weapons. China has, ever since coming into possession of nuclear
weapons, undertaken unconditionally not to be the first to use nuclear weapons
and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon
States or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China has consistently urged all
nuclear-weapon States to confirm the aforementioned commitments in a legal form.
China has always exercised utmost restraint towards developing nuclear weapons,
kept its nuclear arsenal at the minimum level only for self-defense. China has
never been in any nuclear arms race, nor has it deployed any nuclear weapons
outside of its territory.
China firmly believes that a comprehensive ban of nuclear test is an important
step in the process towards the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of
nuclear weapons. China supports an early entry into force of the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). It is committed to its ratification at an early
date, and supports and participates in the preparatory work for the CTBTO with
concrete actions. Under a program of work agreed by all parties, China supports
the CD, according to the mandate of the “Shannon Report”, to begin negotiation
on a multilateral, non-discriminative and internationally and effectively
verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear
weapons. China has always strictly implemented its obligations under the NPT.
Mr. Chairman,
The total elimination of danger of nuclear war lies in the complete prohibition
and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. In a short term, China holds that
the reduction of the risk of nuclear war can be realized through the following
measures:
-All nuclear-weapons States should undertake unconditionally not to be the first
to use nuclear weapons and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against
non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones;
-No State should research and develop low-yield and more-likely-used nuclear
weapons;
-The nuclear-weapon States should withdraw and return home all the nuclear
weapons deployed outside of their own territories;
-The nuclear-weapons States should take all necessary steps to avoid accidental
or unauthorized launches of nuclear weapons, etc.
Mr. Chairman,
The goal of nuclear disarmament is the complete prohibition and thorough
destruction of nuclear weapons. A world free of nuclear weapons cannot be
achieved overnight, rather, it demands the unremitting efforts of generations to
come. China will continue to contribute to this cause.
The basic positions of China on nuclear disarmament and the reduction of the
danger of nuclear war are contained in document NPT/CONF.2005/PC.II/WP.##, which
we believe should be reflected in relevant part of the concluding document of
this PrepCom.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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.
