Seabed Arms Control Treaty

Seabed Arms Control Treaty

Formal Title: TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE EMPLACEMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ON THE SEA-BED AND OCEAN FLOOR AND IN THE SUBSOIL THEREOF

Summary:

Like the Antarctic Treaty, the Outer Space Treaty (OST), and nuclear weapon-free zones (NWFZs), the Seabed Arms Control Treaty is intended to prevent the introduction of international conflict and nuclear weapons into new areas and environments. The Seabed Arms Control Treaty prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction on the seabed and the ocean floor beyond a 12-mile coastal zone. The "seabed zone" is measured in accordance with the provisions of the 1958 Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone. Parties may undertake verification using their own means, with the assistance of other parties, or through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United. These provisions permit parties to assure themselves the treaty obligations are being fulfilled without interfering with legitimate seabed activities. The Seabed Treaty also stipulates that parties are to work for further measures to prevent an arms race on the seabed.

The final draft of the Seabed Arms Control Treaty was approved by the UN General Assembly on 7 December 1970. The Treaty was opened for signature in Washington, London, and Moscow on 11 February 1971. It entered into force 18 May 1972, when the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and more than 22 nations had deposited instruments of ratification.

For more in-depth information, please consult the Inventory of Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes, which can be found on the CNS website at: http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/.

China and the Seabed Arms Control Treaty:

China is a member of the Seabed Arms Control Treaty, having acceded to the Treaty on 28 February 1991. [Roland M. Timerbaev and Meggen M. Watt, Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes, 1995 edition, p. 53]

In 1972, China stated that there should be a prohibition on the activities of all the nuclear-powered submarines in the international sea-bed area and in the sea-bed area of other states. [Chinese speech to the UN Sea-Bed Committee, 27 July 1972.]

[TEXT OF SEABED ARMS CONTROL TREATY]

Key Statements/Documents on China and the Seabed Arms Control Treaty:

[Chinese speech to the UN Sea-Bed Committee, 27 July 1972.]

For more on China and non-armament treaties, see the following pages:

[CHINA AND THE ANTARCTIC TREATY]

[CHINA AND THE OUTER SPACE TREATY (OST)]

[CHINA AND NUCLEAR WEAPON FREE ZONES (NWFZ)]