Working Paper on Nuclear Issues Submitted by China

The Chinese Delegation submitted five Working Papers to the First Session of Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons respectively on security assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear-weapon-free zones and nuclear issues in the Middle East, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and nuclear disarmament and reducing the danger of nuclear war (NPT/CONF.2020/PC.I/WP.32~36), which comprehensively elaborated China's principle views on relative issues. On the basis thereupon, the Chinese Delegation would like to emphasize the following aspects:

The international community should cultivate the awareness of a community of shared future for the security of mankind, stick to multilateralism in the field of security, promote building an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity.

All countries should discard the cold-war mentality and zero-sum thinking, advocate and pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, be committed to resolving differences through consultation, and settling disputes through dialogue.

Countries should respect the role of the NPT as the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament regime, promote its Three Pillars in a comprehensive and balanced manner, maintain and strengthen the authority, universality and effectiveness of the Treaty by opposing double-standard and pragmatism. Countries that have not yet acceded to the NPT should unconditionally do so as non-nuclear-weapon States at an early date.

I. Nuclear Non-Proliferation

The root causes of the proliferation of nuclear weapons are complex. International efforts should be made to address both symptom and root causes of nuclear proliferation through an holistic approach. Firstly, countries should strive to achieve universal security and eliminate root causes of nuclear proliferation. Secondly, countries should stick to peaceful settlement for nuclear proliferation issues via political and diplomatic means. Thirdly, countries should abandon double standards and pragmatism, and uphold the authority of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and continuously reinforce its impartiality, rationality and non-discrimination. Fourthly, countries should handle the relationship between nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy in a fair and balanced manner.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iranian nuclear issue is a model for preventing nuclear proliferation through political and diplomatic means. To ensure the faithful and long-term implementation of the JCPOA is of great significance for strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. Recently, the JCPOA has been facing with increased uncertainty. With an aim to maintain overall benefits of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, all relevant parties should manage and resolve disputes via dialogues and consultations, so as to maintain the integrity and credibility of the JCPOA.

To promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula serves the security interests of the region and the world at large. Currently, the situation on the Peninsula has witnessed a hard-won relaxation. All parties involved should seize the opportunity and move in the same direction. They should follow the "dual-track approach" by promoting the denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism in the Peninsula simultaneously, in order to forge a future featuring lasting peace and stability.

The Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an important component of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. All parties should support the IAEA to constantly improve in an impartial, objective and transparent manner the efficiency and effectiveness of safeguards.

The establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction relates not only to the peace and stability in the region, but also the authority of the review process of the NPT. In this regard, all relevant parties are encouraged to take flexible and practical measures to strive to break the deadlock and convene the postponed International Conference on this issue at an early date.

II. Nuclear Disarmament

1. The international community should pay attention to strategic issues that may have negative impact on nuclear disarmament. Development or deployment of global missile defense systems should be stopped and abandoned immediately. Besides, all states should work together to prevent the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space, prevent the high-tech arms race from aggravating the international strategic imbalance, maintain the global strategic balance and stability, and create an international security environment necessary for nuclear disarmament.

2. Nuclear-weapon States should concretely undertake their responsibilities, be committed to the ultimately complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, faithfully fulfill their nuclear disarmament obligations under Article VI of the NPT, and publicly commit not to seek permanent possession of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear-weapon States should reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security doctrines, abandon the nuclear deterrence policy based on first use of nuclear weapons, and abandon the policy and practice of nuclear umbrella and the practice of nuclear sharing.

Nuclear-weapon States should continue to observe their moratoria on nuclear test, refrain from researching or developing new types of nuclear weapons, and stop deploying nuclear weapons abroad.

Nuclear-weapon States should honor their commitments not to target their nuclear weapons at any countries, explicitly undertake unconditionally to not to use or threaten to use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones. They should support the negotiation and conclusion of international legal instruments on the issues of negative security assurance (NSA) and no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear-weapon States should take all steps necessary to avoid accidental or unauthorized launches of nuclear weapons and ensure the security of facilities related to nuclear weapons.

States possessing the largest nuclear arsenals bear special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament and should take the lead in substantially reducing those nuclear arsenals in a verifiable, irreversible and legally binding manner.

3. Nuclear disarmament should follow the principles of "maintaining global strategic stability" and "undiminished security for all", and be pursued in a step-by-step manner within existing disarmament negotiation mechanism.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an important step in the nuclear disarmament process. All signatory states should strengthen their political and financial support to it. Recently, a batch of IMS monitoring stations in China has been certified by the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS), which reflects China's firm support to the CTBT.

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is the sole appropriate forum for the negotiation of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (FMCT). The United Nations High-level FMCT Expert Preparatory Group should proceed in strict accordance with its mandate defined in the relevant UN General Assembly resolution, so as to ensure its outcome would be conducive to the authority of the CD.

Nuclear disarmament verification involves sensitive information on nuclear weapons. Related research and discussion on this issue should not hamper the security interest of nuclear-weapon States, and strict non-proliferation measures should be adopted therein.

III. Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is of great importance in ensuring energy security, mitigating climate change and achieving sustainable development.The peaceful uses of nuclear energy is an inalienable right of the States parties to the NPT. Efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons should not undermine the legitimate rights of States parties, particularly developing countries, to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China will continue to steadily advance nuclear power construction, build up a clean and safe, low-carbon and highly-efficient modern energy mix, and promote the development of nuclear energy in the whole world.

Safety and security are basic prerequisites for the development and utilization of nuclear energy. The international community should adhere to the rational, coordinated and progressive nuclear security concept, and step up political input, national responsibility, international cooperation and nuclear security culture. China has always attached great importance to nuclear safety and has carried the Nuclear Safety Law into effect since January 2018. China will continue to ensure safe and reliable operation of nuclear facilities through effective regulation and scientific management.

China actively promotes international cooperation on nuclear safety and security and advocates the cause of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In March 2018, China hosted the Fifth Asia-Europe Meeting Seminar on Nuclear Safety in order to promote nuclear safety cooperation and boost green growth in Asia and Europe. In April 2018, China and U.S. jointly hosted the Nuclear Security Contact Group Workshop on Regional Capacity Building and Cooperation with the aim of promoting regional cooperation on nuclear security capacity building and constructing nuclear security capacity building network. China attaches great importance to international cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and stands ready to work with all States parties to make the whole world enjoy the benefit of nuclear energy.