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China Outlines National Nonproliferation Policies By Mike Nartker WASHINGTON — China today released an eight-page “white paper” detailing its nonproliferation policies and the efforts it has made over the past several years both domestically and internationally to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies (see GSN, Dec. 2). The paper was released shortly before a planned visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to the United States, which is scheduled for Dec. 7-13. A U.S. State Department official suggested today to Global Security Newswire that the paper’s release might have been intended to help improve U.S.-Chinese relations before Wen’s visit. In the paper, China reiterated its strong opposition to weapons of mass destruction. “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. China does not support, encourage or assist any country to develop WMD and their means of delivery,” the paper says. China called for “universal participation” in international nonproliferation efforts, with a significant role given to the United Nations, to ensure the creation of a “fair, rational and nondiscriminatory” international nonproliferation regime. “Unilateralism and double standards must be abandoned,” the paper says. In a veiled swipe at the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which the Bush administration justified in part by citing Baghdad’s suspected efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, China also said that international nonproliferation goals have to be achieved through “peaceful means.” “Proliferation issues must be settled through dialogue and international cooperation,” the paper says. It also notes Chinese concern over the controversy surrounding Iran’s nuclear efforts. While Tehran has claimed that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, the United States has argued that it is a cover for nuclear weapons development (see GSN, Dec. 1). “China maintains that, while it is necessary to guarantee the rights of all countries, especially the developing nations, to utilize and share dual-use scientific and technological achievements and products for peaceful purposes subject to full compliance with the nonproliferation goal, it is also necessary to prevent any country from engaging in proliferation under the pretext of peaceful utilization,” the paper says. Chinese Nonproliferation EffortsToday’s release describes in detail China’s participation over the last several years in international nonproliferation efforts, saying that Beijing has signed “all international treaties related to nonproliferation and joined most of the relevant organizations,” such as the International Atomic Energy Agency. The paper also notes China’s participation in the discussions leading up to the establishment of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation last year — an agreement that Beijing ultimately chose not to join (see GSN, July 2). In addition, China has “energetically supported efforts by countries to establish nuclear weapons-free zones, the paper says. For example, China was the first nuclear weapon state to support a five-nation, Central Asian nuclear weapon-free zone treaty (see GSN, Oct. 7). The paper also outlines China’s progress in establishing national export control systems governing the transfer of WMD- and ballistic missile-related goods, including the creation of an export licensing system, end-use certification regulations and export control lists that are “generally the same” as those developed by multilateral export control regimes, such as the Australia Group, which covers dual-use biological and chemical exports, and the Missile Technology Control Regime (see GSN, Sept. 30). China also said today that its transition from a state-planned economy to a more market-based approach has had an impact on its national export control regulations, moving them from a system of “administrative control” to one of “law-based control.” In several instances throughout the white paper, Beijing emphasized its commitment to enforcing its national export control regulations and to punishing violators. “The Chinese government attaches great importance to the investigation and handling of cases of law violations relating to nonproliferation,” the paper says. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing praised China’s nonproliferation efforts, according to the Associated Press. “We welcome efforts by China to stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, missiles, conventional weapons and related materials and technologies through stricter export control regulations,” AP quoted an embassy press statement as saying. The State Department official also said, though, that Washington continues to have issues with the behavior of some Chinese entities and hopes that China will continue to work to improve its enforcement of its national export control regulations (see GSN, Oct. 21). Over the past year, the United States has sanctioned a number of Chinese companies, in some instances multiple times, for alleged illegal exports of WMD- and missile-related items (see GSN, Nov. 24). In addition, a CIA assessment of the WMD threat posed by countries of concern released last month said the “proliferation behavior of some Chinese companies remains of great concern” (see GSN, Nov. 11).
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