China publishes white paper on non-proliferation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 03, 2003

China publishes white paper on non-proliferation

The Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, published a White Paper on the country's Non-Proliferation Policy and Measures Wednesday. The 9,000-word White Paper, the first of its kind, reiterated China's firm stance of opposing the proliferation of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery, and elaborated on the country's persistent non-proliferation efforts. Full Text of the White Paper

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The Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, published a White Paper on China's Non-Proliferation Policy and Measures in Beijing Wednesday.

The 9,000-word White Paper, the first of its kind, reiterated China's firm stance of opposing the proliferation of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery, and elaborated on the country's persistent non-proliferation efforts.

"China has always taken a responsible attitude toward international affairs, stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all kinds of WMD, including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, and resolutely opposed the proliferation of such weapons and their means of delivery," said the White Paper.

It pledged that China did not support, encourage or assist any country to develop WMD and their delivery means.

Holding international and regional peace and security as the fundamental purpose of non-proliferation, China maintains that a universal participation of the international community is essential for the non-proliferation progress.

"Unilateralism and double standards must be abandoned, and great importance should be attached and full play given to the role of the United Nations," said the White Paper.

It called on all countries, in the course of implementing their non-proliferation policies, to strike a proper balance between non-proliferation and international cooperation for peaceful use of relevant high technologies, given the dual-use nature of many materials, equipment and technologies involved in the nuclear, biological, chemical and aerospace fields.

According to the White Paper, China has signed all international treaties related to non-proliferation, and joined most of the relevant international organizations.

Meanwhile, China also supports the international community to prevent the proliferation of missiles and related technologies and materials, and adopts a positive and open attitude toward all international proposals for strengthening the missile non-proliferation mechanism.

With a strong sense of responsibility, China has gradually formulated a whole set of non-proliferation policies over the years and put in place a fairly complete legal framework on non-proliferation and export control.

According to the White Paper, the export control mechanism in China, which has changed from an administrative control to a law-based one with the establishment of the socialist market economic system, covers nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other sensitive items and technologies, and all military products.

The mechanism is based on a number of laws and regulations, which have widely absorbed the current international standards and practices, and is believed to provide a full legal basis for the better attainment of the non-proliferation goal.

According to the White Paper, this export control regime includes the export registration system, licensing system, end-user and end-use certification, list control method, principle of nonproliferation-oriented examination and approval, as well as "catch-all" principle.

Exporters who break related laws and regulations shall be investigated for criminal liability, and for cases that do not constitute crimes, the relevant government department(s) shall give administrative sanctions, it said.

It revealed that China has devoted great efforts to improving non-proliferation export control organs, publicizing relevant policies and regulations, enhancing non-proliferation awareness of enterprises, and investigating and handling violation cases, in a bid to ensure the effective implementation of laws and regulations on non-proliferation export control.

In recent years, the country has dealt with a number of law-breaking export cases and imposed corresponding punishments to the units and individuals involved according to law.

Meanwhile, the government is also fully aware that the above efforts should proceed step by step in a systematic way.

While referring to future schemes, the White Paper said China would continue to take an active part in international non-proliferation endeavors, and in strengthening the existing non-proliferation international law system within the UN framework.

China will also constantly increase consultations and exchanges with the multinational non-proliferation mechanisms, and further contribute to related international discussions.

Trying to foster a new security concept of seeking security through cooperation, dialogue, mutual trust and development, China would join the members of the international community who love peace and stability to accelerate the improvement of the international non-proliferation mechanism, said the White Paper.

China would always persist in settling the issue of proliferation of WMD and their delivery means through peaceful means, it stressed.

The White Paper has altogether seven parts, namely Foreword, China's Basic Stand on Non-Proliferation, Actively Participating in International Non-Proliferation Efforts, Non-Proliferation Export Control System, Concrete Measures for Non-Proliferation Export Control, Strictly Implementing the Laws and Regulations on Non-Proliferation Export Control, and Conclusion.

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