New York, 19 March 2024 (TDI): Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, Ambassador Zhang Jun, briefed the UN Security Council on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
The Ambassador highlighted that the international community shares aspiration for the complete prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons, with the Cold War mentality rearing, the risk of arms race and nuclear conflict is rising.
Consequently, the road to nuclear disarmament remains long and arduous.
Ambassador Zhang Jun briefed about the Global Security Initiative by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said that the GSI emphasize the need to adhere to the concept of a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.
Furthermore, he invited all countries to join hands in continuously strengthening the authority and effectiveness of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and to jointly promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Remarks by Ambassador Zhang Jun at the UN Security Council Briefing on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferationhttps://t.co/Lo7P7zHnf3 pic.twitter.com/lk93g76vZa
— Chinese Mission to UN (@Chinamission2un) March 18, 2024
The Ambassador pointed that we should adhere to the concept of common security, highlighting that President Xi has many times made it clear that nuclear war should never be fought, and that international community should jointly oppose the threat of use of nuclear weapons.
Moreover, in 2022 the five nuclear weapon states issued a joint statement on prevention of a nuclear war. Therefore, a feasible treaty should be negotiated on no first use and to provide legally binding security assurances to non-nuclear weapon states.
Countries should continue to enhance the safety, reliability, and controllability of AI technology and ensure that relevant weapon systems are always under human control.
Secondly, we should take a rational and pragmatic approach and promote international nuclear disarmament in a gradual and steady manner.
Remarks on the role of US
The US allegations against China do not hold any water. It is precisely the US who should continue to fulfill its special and priority responsibility to further reduce the nuclear arsenals in a drastic and substantive manner.
Thirdly, we should commit to a political solution and safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Non-proliferation recent hotspot issues such as the ones regarding the Korean Peninsula and Iran have complex historical background and are closely linked to the continuity of the non-proliferation policies of a relevant country.
All parties should adhere to political and diplomatic efforts to address each other’s legitimate security concerns through dialogue and balanced solutions, and the United States should abandon the threat of use and the use of sanctions and pressure.
The US nuclear submarine cooperation with certain countries carries a high risk of nuclear proliferation. It is a serious violation of the objective and the purpose of the NPT and undermines regional peace and stability.
Therefore, corrective measures should be taken to rectify it and be brought back to the right path. Nuclear weapons states should sign and ratify the protocols to the nuclear weapon free zone treaties as soon as possible.
China’s resolve on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
China reaffirms its readiness to take the lead in signing the protocol to the Southeast Asian nuclear weapon free zone treaty and its firm support for the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other WMDs.
Fourth, we should adhere to the original intent of common development and the pursuit of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Development is the cornerstone of peace and security.
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The international community should pay attention to the needs of developing countries for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, increase relevant financial and technical assistance, and help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In addition, IAEA should play a greater role in promoting cooperation and assistance in areas of nuclear power, applications of nuclear technology, and nuclear safety and security.
Lastly, China has always advocated the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. 60 years ago, China solemnly declared that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time under any circumstances.
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