Vice Foreign Minister on China's Non-Proliferation Policy and Practice

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 18, 2002

Vice Foreign Minister on China's Non-Proliferation Policy and Practice

The People's Daily published an article entitled Keep on Improving Non-Proliferation Mechanism and Promote World Peace and Development -- China's Non-Proliferation Policy and Practice by Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya on October 16, 2002. The article was also published in China Daily on October 17 and will be published in Beijing Review (Issue No. 44).

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems is conducive to the preservation of regional and global peace and security. This is now the consensus of the international community. Over the past few decades, the international community has, with the joint efforts of all countries, established a relatively complete international non-proliferation system. Such a system has played a positive role in slowing down and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and maintaining global and regional peace and stability.

Today, when peace and development are major themes worldwide, the international non-proliferation process has become an important component of mankind's pursuit of these goals.

In recent years, economic globalization and the rapid development of science and technology have provided the international community with good opportunities for co-operation and development but at the same time posed new challenges to international security as well. Non-traditional security threats as represented by international terrorism are increasingly grave. The world is facing a new situation in which traditional and non-traditional security factors are interwoven and the non-traditional ones are steadily on the rise. The sarin gas attack that took place in Japan several years ago, the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States last year and the subsequent anthrax scare are all typical reflections of this situation.

Under the new circumstances, countries are more closely linked to each other in security matters and their interdependence is ever deepening. Stepping up international co-operation and seeking the common security of all countries have become inevitable demands of the times. At present, it is a particularly important and urgent task to strengthen international co-operation in the non-proliferation area and to develop and improve the international non-proliferation system.

China's attitude

As a major country, China has all along taken a responsible attitude towards international affairs and actively committed itself to the preservation and promotion of world peace, stability and development. We have always believed that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is neither in the interest of world peace and stability, nor beneficial to the security of China itself. Therefore, China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction and has stood firmly against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. For these reasons, China has over the years been an active participant in international non-proliferation efforts. At the same time, we have steadfastly pursued a policy of not advocating, encouraging or assisting any other country in developing weapons of mass destruction and with concrete deeds have made our contribution to the international non-proliferation process.

Up to now, China has acceded to almost all the international legal instruments and most of the international organizations related to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In the nuclear field, it joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1984 and placed its civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards voluntarily. It acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1992. In 1997, it became a member of the "Zangger Committee," which is an international nuclear export control mechanism. It signed the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA in 1998 and completed the domestic legal procedures in early 2002 for the entry into force of the Protocol, thus becoming the first among the five nuclear-weapon states that has done so. China was among the first countries to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996 and has supported and actively participated in the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

In the biological and chemical fields, it joined the Biological Weapons Convention in 1984 and has taken an active part in international efforts aimed at enhancing the efficacy of the convention. China made a positive contribution to the negotiation and conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention and ratified the convention in 1996. Since the entry into force of the convention, China has always supported the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and carried out in earnest all its obligations thereunder. Moreover, it has supported the efforts of relevant countries to establish nuclear-weapon free zones by acceding to the relevant protocols to the treaties on nuclear-weapon free zones in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the South Pacific and Africa, and has made an explicit commitment to sign the related protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone.

China has also been positive and open-minded about all proposals on strengthening the international non-proliferation system. We support the endeavour made by the international community to resolve the missile proliferation issue and are actively involved in the work of the United Nations Panel of Governmental Experts on Missiles and in the international discussions on the International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (ICOC) and the Global Control System for Non-Proliferation of Missiles and Missile Technologies (GCS). The September 11 attacks have made it more urgent to prevent terrorist organizations from getting hold of weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, China supports the IAEA in playing its part in preventing potential nuclear terrorist activities. China has been an active player in the work to amend the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and played a constructive role in this process.

Effective control of the materials, equipment and technologies that can be used for the development and production of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems is an important aspect in the fulfilment of international non-proliferation obligations by countries and the key to the success of the international non-proliferation efforts. As a country with relatively comprehensive scientific, technological and industrial capacities, China knows full well its international responsibility on the non-proliferation issue. China has long adopted strict measures both on the management of sensitive items and technologies at home and on export control, and it has constantly improved such measures in light of the changing situation.

Non-proliferation mechanisms

For a rather long period in the past, China followed a central planning system with its economy dominated by State-owned enterprises, and the State relied mainly on administrative measures in import and export management. It was effective under the then historical conditions. However, with the deepening of reform and opening-up, tremendous changes have taken place in China's domestic economy and foreign trade. The original management model is becoming less effective in meeting the requirements of the current situation, and needs to be transformed into a system based on legal means. Therefore, since the beginning of the reform and opening-up, especially in the past decade, we have steadily strengthened the framework of law for non-proliferation in a spirit of "governing the country by law," so as to ensure the effective implementation of government policies on non-proliferation. As China has already joined the World Trade Organization, Chinese enterprises and individuals will become more extensively and deeply involved in international economic activities. The task for export control according to law will grow heavier. The rising terrorist threat has also set out new requirements for our non-proliferation work. Therefore, it seems all the more imperative to further strengthen the framework of law for non-proliferation and to establish an open and transparent system of laws and regulations suited to the market economy.

The Chinese Government and State leaders have all along attached great importance to this work. Under the direct attention and guidance of State leaders, China's non-proliferation work has made much headway. Now China has established a relatively complete mechanism of non-proliferation management that covers nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other fields.

In the nuclear field, China exercises stringent management and control over nuclear exports and nuclear material. China's nuclear exports are monopolized by companies designated by the State Council, adhering to the following three principles: Nuclear materials exported from China will be used only for peaceful purposes, placed under IAEA safeguards, and not transferred to a third country without prior consent of the Chinese Government. In 1997, the Chinese Government issued the Regulations of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on Nuclear Export Control. Apart from the above-mentioned three principles, the Regulations also give expression to the policy of not rendering any assistance to nuclear facilities that are not placed under IAEA safeguards. The Chinese Government promulgated the Regulations of the PRC on the Export Control of Nuclear Dual-Use Items and Related Technologies in 1998, thus improving China's system of law on nuclear export control. In nuclear material management, after joining the IAEA, China established a "State System for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Material" in compliance with safeguard requirements and a "Nuclear Material Security System" in keeping with the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The Chinese Government issued the Regulations of the PRC on Nuclear Material Control in 1987 and its Practice Guidelines in 1990. To this day, no illegal transfer of nuclear material has occurred in China.

In the chemical field, China has strictly discharged its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and never manufactured, stockpiled, or helped any other country to acquire or develop chemical weapons. From 1995 to 1997, the Chinese Government issued a series of laws and regulations, such as the Regulations on the Administration of the Controlled Chemicals, the Controlled Chemicals List and Rules on the Implementation of the Regulations on the Administration of the Controlled Chemicals, in order to exercise strict control on the production, operation, import and export of dual-use chemicals and related equipment and technologies. According to these regulations, the import and export of controlled chemicals must be entrusted to State-designated companies, and no other entities or individuals are allowed to engage in such business.

The Chinese Government made revisions to the Controlled Chemicals List in 1998, adding 10 chemicals to the list. To intensify the export control of chemicals and related technologies and equipment, the Chinese Government will issue the Administrative Rules on the Export Control of Relevant Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies (including an export control list) soon.

In the biological field, China has always strictly fulfilled the obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention. Over the past decade and more, the Chinese Government has formulated a series of regulations, setting strict provisions on the activities such as production, management, use, stockpiling, carrying and transfer of relevant dangerous bacteria and viruses, vaccines and other biological products. To improve the export management of dual-use biological products and related equipment and technologies, the Regulations on the Export Control of Dual-Use Biological Products and Related Equipment and Technologies (including an export control list) will be issued soon.

In the missile field, China has all along taken a prudent and responsible attitude towards the export of missiles and related technologies. In 1992, China declared that it would observe the guidelines and parameters of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in the export of missiles and related technologies. China declared in 1994 that it would not export ground-to-ground missiles violating the primary parameters of the MTCR - that is, inherently capable of reaching a range of at least 300 kilometres with a payload of at least 500 kilograms.

In 2000, China further declared that it had no intention of assisting any country in any way in the development of ballistic missiles that could be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Recently, the Chinese Government promulgated the Regulations of the PRC on Export Control of Missiles and Missile-Related Items and Technologies and the Export Control List, which are of great significance as they incorporate, in light of China's actual conditions and the prevailing international practice, the export of missiles and missile-related items and technologies as well as missile-related dual-use items and technologies into a framework of law-based management.

In addition to the above-mentioned specialized provisions, some other laws and regulations issued by the Chinese Government also cover the management of sensitive items and technologies. In order to carry out a unified administration of arms trade, the Chinese Government promulgated the Regulations of the PRC on the Administration of Arms Exports in 1997. According to these regulations, China sticks to the following three principles in arms exports: being conducive to the capability for legitimate self-defence of the recipient country; not being detrimental to peace, security and stability of the region concerned and the world as a whole; non-interference in the internal affairs of the recipient country. The Regulations stipulate that arms exports can only be conducted by arms trading companies with business operation rights for arms exports, subject to a licensing system, and that dual-use products whose end-use is for a military purpose will be controlled as arms.

China promulgated the Administrative Regulations of the PRC on the Import and Export Control of Technologies in 2001, putting a strict control on the export of nuclear technologies, technologies related to dual-use nuclear products and the production of controlled chemicals and military technologies. To prevent terrorist activities using chemical or biological means, China made a new amendment to the Criminal Law in 2001, which explicitly identifies as crimes such acts that endanger public security as the illegal production, transportation, stockpiling and spreading of toxic materials and the pathogens of infectious diseases. China's Criminal Law, the Customs Law and Law of Administrative Punishment have also provided relevant legislation with a basis for punishment.

Basic characteristics

It is not difficult for us to see from the above that the Chinese non-proliferation management mechanism has two basic characteristics, as follows:

1. The administrative management has been by and large transformed into one of management by law. Compared with administrative orders, management by law has such merits as clearly defined rights and obligations, extensive application, greater transparency and stronger operability. The current Chinese non-proliferation legal system has also given full expression to these characteristics. As an integrated whole, this system has not only adjusted the corporate and individual behaviours in the production and operation of sensitive items, but also made corresponding stipulations about the rights and obligations of the competent authorities of China.

At the same time, in the relevant laws and regulations, necessary provisions have been laid down against breaches of law, and a set of punishment mechanisms, including administrative and criminal punishments, have been set up. Following the principle that laws must be observed and strictly enforced, we have continued to step up the supervision and effectively prevented some violations of the law. Every enterprise or individual that engages in illegal transactions, once the transgression is verified by the authorities, will be dealt with according to the law.

Practice shows that the new management mechanism has not only ensured the implementation of the government's non-proliferation policy and the smooth operation of normal business and trade, but has also produced good results by enhancing the international community's understanding of China's policy.

2. On the basis of taking full consideration of China's national conditions, this mechanism has been brought in line with international practice. In building up the non-proliferation mechanism, we need not only consider the national conditions, but also draw upon some international practices, as inevitably required by the larger international environment.

At present, China has adopted such international practices as the end-use and end-user guarantee system, licensing system, control list and "catch-all" principle, which have been applied to nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other fields. China has also come in line with international standards in terms of the scope of the control lists. In the nuclear field, our Nuclear Export Control List and Export Control List of Nuclear Dual-Use Items and Related Technologies cover all the items and technologies included on the "Zangger Committee" list and the control list of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). In the biological and chemical fields, our lists cover all items and technologies on the control list of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Australia Group. In the missile field, our list is basically the same as the MTCR Annex in terms of the control scope and relevant parameters.

Future co-operation

The Chinese Government has been firm and consistent in its policy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We believe that on such a good foundation as it is now, our non-proliferation work will be even more successful. However, we are also aware of the new requirements and the challenges posed to our work by ever-changing international and domestic situations.

In the future, on the one hand, we need to strengthen law-enforcement efforts and the promotion of our policies and laws, so as to ensure their full implementation. On the other hand, we need to consolidate and improve the current legal and management mechanisms in light of the changing situation and in a spirit of keeping pace with the times.

Meanwhile, we believe that no country can proceed with non-proliferation efforts in isolation and that it is vitally important to boost international co-operation and exchange. Conducting all kinds of international co-operation and exchange helps countries draw upon the successful experience and measures of others to offset their own weaknesses, and also facilitates the resolution of differences and enhancement of mutual trust. Therefore, the Chinese Government has all along attached importance to international co-operation in this field and maintained good communications and sought consultation with other countries. In the new situation, we are ready to further expand and deepen our non-proliferation exchange and co-operation with other countries.

The non-proliferation efforts of each and every country and the development of the international non-proliferation system are complementary and closely related. The international non-proliferation objectives cannot be achieved without the efforts of individual countries. And the development of non-proliferation systems in these countries is inseparable from the overall improvement of the international non-proliferation mechanism. In the past decade or so, the international non-proliferation regime has become stronger, but it still faces many problems and challenges.

Strengthened non-proliferation should not hinder international scientific and technological co-operation, nor should it impede developing countries' peaceful uses of science and technology. In pursuing non-proliferation goals, the international community should uphold justice, take a serious approach and forsake selfishness and double standards.

Nowadays, terrorism and other non-traditional threats are posing new challenges to the international non-proliferation system. Whether the international non-proliferation system can last long and the non-proliferation objectives can be reached depend on whether we can properly settle these issues. The international community should pay close attention to them.

China has always been committed to the sound development of the international non-proliferation system. We believe that since the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has complex causes, non-proliferation efforts should follow the principle of seeking both temporary and permanent solutions, and these solutions should be sought through political and diplomatic means. Sanctions, pressures or threats of force cannot solve the problem; rather they will damage the good international environment needed for the development of an international non-proliferation system.

A general improvement in international relations is the fundamental way to eliminate threats and create preconditions for the effective conduct of non-proliferation efforts. Only through joint efforts of the international community can the non-proliferation objectives be realized. However, to ensure the wide support of countries and their extensive participation, the whole non-proliferation system must be just and reasonable. That is, it must be non-discriminatory in nature and the countries' right to peaceful uses of advanced science and technology must be guaranteed. The consolidation of the existing non-proliferation mechanisms and the establishment of new ones should both be based on universal participation and democratic decision-making by all countries, with the United Nations playing a full role.

China is ready to work with the rest of the international community to promote the development and improvement of the international non-proliferation system and make contributions to international peace, stability and development.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Urges Prevention of Weaponization and Arms Race in Space

China Welcomes US-Russia's Arms Cut

Prevention of Outer Space Arms Race Priority for China

HKSAR Expected to Have World-class University in Five Years ( 11 Messages)

Jiang Expects In-depth Discussion with US President ( 8 Messages)

Why US Congress Grants Bush War Authority ( 9 Messages)

At least 182 Dead in Indonesian Island Blast: President ( 25 Messages)

China's Automaker Invests in GM-Daewoo Joint Venture ( 10 Messages)