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China Calls for International Treaty to Ban Outer Space Arms Race
A Chinese representative said that "it is necessary to speed up negotiations on an international agreement for the prevention of arms race in outer space."
Speaking at the 43rd session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Thursday, Huang Huikang, head of the Chinese delegation, said it is important and realistic for the committee to restart consideration of maintaining peaceful use of outer space after a two-year suspension.
"Recently, a certain country has accelerated development and test of an outer space weapon system, or the so-called TMD, which risks intensification of arms race in outer space. Such an action is contradictory to the current trends and goes against established international principles," Huang said.
The TMD system, or the Theater Missile Defense system, which has its roots in the "Star Wars" anti-ballistic missile research begun in the 1980s, is now being studied jointly by the United States and Japan.
The United States claims that the system is being considered because of a perceived missile threat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, many countries have expressed concern about its deep adverse impact on international stability and the disarmament process.
In 1967, the United Nations ratified a treaty on principles governing the activities of states in outer space, saying that all exploration and use of it should be for peaceful purpose.
"Outer space belongs to all mankind. Therefore, exploration and use of it should proceed on a peaceful basis and serve the economic, scientific, and cultural development of all countries," the Chinese official said.
"Non-militarization is no doubt in tide with the future of space law," he added. "In order to prohibit testing and using weapons in outer space, an international legal instrument should be negotiated and concluded immediately."
The current COPUOS session, which started Wednesday, will submit a report on ways and means to maintain outer space for peaceful purpose to the forthcoming 55th U.N. General Assembly.
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