(November 1, 2005, New York)

Mr. Chairman,

China abstained on the draft resolution "Transparency in armaments" (L.50/Rev.1). I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate China's position in this regard.

China has all along taken a positive attitude towards the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. China submitted its reports to the Register since the very inception of the Register in 1993. However, since 1996, a certain country registered its arms sales to the Taiwan Province of China in the form of a footnote. Such behavior not only constituted interference in China's internal affairs, but also violated the important principle that the UN Register should only record arms trade between sovereign states, thus damaging the authority of the Register. This is unacceptable to China. China therefore has been compelled to suspend its reporting to the Register since 1998. The erroneous practice of the said country is the only obstacle for China to submit its report to the Register, as well as the main reason that China cannot support this resolution. We once again call upon this country to immediately rectify its mistakes and create necessary conditions for China to resume its participation in the Register.

Mr. Chairman,

China actively and constructively participated in all the previous UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on the Register of Conventional Arms and made contribution to the development of the Register. We are willing to continue this effort. We note that, compared with the resolution "Transparency in armaments" of previous years, new elements have been included in the resolution this year. We are of the view that the issue of registering trade in small arms and light weapons should be subject to study and discussion by next year's GGE and this resolution should not prejudge the work of GGE. Therefore, we would like to register our preservation in that regard.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.