By Li Yaqiang and Yao Yunzhu (China Daily)    

    BEIJING, Jan. 4 -- Arms control and disarmament have become key contents in the white papers on China's National Defence issued by the State Council since 1998.

    On December 27, "China's National Defence in 2004" was issued.

    It put forth the country's progress in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation as well as the country's new propositions in these fields.

    First, the Chinese Government is committed to non-proliferation efforts.

    Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is a significant step, one that can affect the development of the humankind.

    Nuclear weapons have immense and enduring destructive power. They leave behind a lasting footprint.

    The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, for example, raised fears among many neighbouring countries.

    The use of nuclear weapons in war, regardless of whether they are strategic or tactical weapons, for direct killing or to produce a nuclear winter, would have unpredictable and disastrous results.

    Biological and chemical weapons also have enormous destructive power.

    With the development of biological technology, the ascendance of genetic weapons has become very possible.

    Therefore the proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery is detrimental to world peace and security, as well as to China's own security.

    The international community is of one mind on this, and non-proliferation is in the common interest of all countries.

    The Chinese Government has attached great importance to the issue and does not support, encourage or assist other countries to develop WMD. It resolutely opposes the proliferation of WMD and actively participates in diplomatic efforts of the international community to deal with non-proliferation issues.

    In 2003, the Chinese Government published a white paper entitled China's Non-Proliferation Policy and Measures. China has put in place a comprehensive legal system for non-proliferation export control, covering the exports of nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other sensitive items and technologies. It has adopted international export control measures, including export registration, end-user and end-use certification, licensing, list control and a "catch-all" principle, and has put in place penalties for breaches of these laws and regulations.

    China has actively developed its relations with relevant multilateral export-control regimes. It has formally joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group and has applied for accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime.

    The success of non-proliferation will have to rely on the joint efforts of the international community. China supports the United Nations' role in the non-proliferation field, and hopes that the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on non-proliferation will be implemented effectively.

    China takes an open attitude towards all proposals that may help safeguard and strengthen the international non-proliferation regime.

    Outside its borders, the Chinese Government has been actively promoting the international arms control and disarmament process.

    In August 2003, in order to break a deadlock at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, China accepted an amendment to the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space.

    Outer space belongs to humankind and China believes the international community should develop a legal instrument to prevent the arms race from spreading to outer space.

    Since the day China developed its first nuclear weapon, the country has been actively promoting complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all such weapons.

    It always pursues a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, and undertakes unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

    It supports the international community in its efforts to start substantive discussions and work on nuclear disarmament, security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states, and prevention of an arms race in outer space.

    China also takes an active part in multilateral efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the Biological Weapons Convention. It supports the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Central Asian countries and other neighbouring countries to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones and has reached agreements in principle with ASEAN countries on the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.

    Meanwhile, the Chinese Government has fulfilled its arms control and disarmament obligations.

    The world's largest developing country, it has suffered through several invasions. China was attacked with biological weapons during World War II and has endured nuclear threats and extortion.

    As a permanent member of the UN security council, China well realizes the threat of WMD and its historical responsibility to ensure security in the world.

    It supports and participates in the safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    It was the first among nuclear weapon states to have completed domestic legal procedures necessary for entry into the Protocol Additional to the Agreement Between China and IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in China. It firmly upholds the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and supports its quick adoption.

    Before the treaty becomes effective, China will stay committed to the moratorium on nuclear testing.

    China continues to earnestly fulfill its obligations and has received 11 inspections by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 2003.

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has started to implement China's obligations under the Convention, and the Macao Special Administrative Region has stepped up the relevant preparatory work.

    Last but not least, the Chinese Government actively participates in humanitarian efforts in the arms control field.

    China attaches great importance to solving the problems caused by landmines. While strictly implementing the Amended Landmine Protocol, it is strengthening communication with member states of the Ottawa Convention.

    China joined the Mine Action Support Group in 2003. It continues to provide assistance in international mine clearance efforts.

    China and the Australian Network of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) co-sponsored the Humanitarian Mine/UXO Clearance Technology and Co-operation Workshop in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, in April 2004.

    China also supports the United Nations in combating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and conscientiously implements the Programme of Action adopted at the UN.

    China signed the Firearms Protocol in 2002, and is now making preparations for its ratification.

    (Source: China Daily)