Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space
The Chinese government has advocated from the outset the peaceful use of outer space, and opposes any weaponization of outer space and any arms race in outer space. China believes that the best way for the international community to prevent any weaponization of or arms race in outer space is to negotiate and conclude a relevant international legally-binding instrument.
In February 2008, China and Russia jointly submitted to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) a draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT). In August 2009, China and Russia jointly submitted their working paper responding to the questions and comments raised by the CD members on the draft treaty. China is looking forward to starting negotiations on the draft treaty at the earliest possible date, in order to conclude a new outer space treaty.
Conventional Arms Control
China has sincerely fulfilled its obligations under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Protocols, submitted its annual reports on the implementation of the Amended Protocol on Landmines, and actively participated in the work of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Cluster Munitions. In April 2010, China ratified the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War.
Since 2009, China has continued to participate actively in international humanitarian de-mining assistance. It has held de-mining training courses for Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan. China has also donated de-mining equipment to Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Sri Lanka, and provided Peru and Ethiopia with mine victim assistance.
China has actively participated in the international effort to combat the illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). It has conscientiously implemented the UN Program of Action (PoA) on SALW and the International Instrument on Identifying and Tracing Illicit SALW. It has participated in the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) and the first session of the Preparatory Commission of an Arms Trade Treaty. In 2010, China attended the Fourth Biannual Meeting on SALW and submitted its national report.
Transparency in Military Expenditure and Registration of Transfer of Conventional Arms
China attaches great importance to military transparency, and makes efforts to promote mutual trust with other countries in the military sphere. Since 2007, China has begun to report to the UN Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures. China gives weight to the UN Register of Conventional Arms and continues to submit data to the Register on conventional arms transfer in the seven categories covered by the Register.
