China calls on nuclear weapon states to negotiate and conclude a "Non First Use of Nuclear Weapons Treaty" Security | Non Proliferation Treaty | Countries

Maintaining the authority of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and serving international security and development

——Speech by Sun Xiaobo, Director General of the Arms Control Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the General Debate of the First Preparatory Committee for the Eleventh Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

On behalf of the Chinese delegation, I congratulate you on your election as the Chairman of this preparatory meeting, and China will fully support your work.

In today's world, turmoil is intertwined, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying, and Cold War thinking such as military alliances and factional confrontations is returning. Global strategic balance and stability are seriously impacted, and the risk of nuclear arms race and nuclear conflict is increasing. The recovery of the world economy is difficult, and contradictions in development areas such as peaceful use of nuclear energy are prominent. In this context, the international security and development governance system represented by the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is facing severe challenges.

China is willing to work with the international community to take the new round of review cycle as an opportunity to balance the three pillars of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and peaceful use of nuclear energy, and fully leverage the role of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in serving security and development. In this regard, the Chinese side has the following four propositions:

Firstly, we must adhere to maintaining strategic balance and stability, and rationally and pragmatically promote nuclear disarmament. China understands the urgent desire of non nuclear weapon states to promote nuclear disarmament. China has always advocated for the comprehensive prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, promising not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and unconditionally not to use nuclear weapons against non nuclear weapon states and zones. China has always maintained its nuclear power at the minimum level necessary for national security and does not participate in any form of arms race. This is China's solemn commitment and significant contribution to the international nuclear disarmament cause. Individual countries have deliberately distorted and accused China of its nuclear policy, which China firmly opposes and will never accept.

Nuclear weapons are a product of history, and nuclear disarmament is inevitably a historical process. The process of nuclear disarmament must follow the principles of "maintaining global strategic stability" and "ensuring that the security of all countries is not compromised", and proceed step by step. It is not in line with historical and practical logic to require countries with vastly different nuclear policies and nuclear weapon quantities to undertake equal nuclear disarmament and transparency obligations, which will inevitably lead the international nuclear disarmament process to a dead end. The urgent task is for the country with the largest nuclear arsenal to fulfill its special and priority responsibility for nuclear disarmament, continue to effectively implement the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, further significantly and substantially reduce its nuclear arsenal, and create conditions for other nuclear weapon states to join the nuclear disarmament process.

Secondly, adhere to the concept of common security and strive to reduce strategic risks.The leaders of the five nuclear powers issued a joint statement on the prevention of nuclear war in January last year, and China supports the five nuclear powers to continue dialogue and cooperation on this basis, and explore feasible measures to reduce strategic risks. At the same time, there is no universally applicable template for measures to reduce strategic risks. Differences in the size of nuclear power, nuclear policies, and security environment of nuclear weapon states should be fully considered, and progress should be made gradually based on the level of strategic mutual trust among countries.

Based on the current international security situation and China's consistent position on reducing strategic risks, China calls on nuclear weapon states to negotiate and conclude a "non first to use nuclear weapons treaty", and advocates for the negotiation of a non nuclear security international legal instrument in the CD. These measures will significantly reduce strategic risks. China also calls on relevant countries to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national and collective security policies, abandon the development and deployment of global missile defense systems, do not seek to deploy intermediate missiles in the Asia Pacific or Europe, stop strengthening so-called "extended deterrence", withdraw nuclear weapons deployed overseas, abandon attempts to replicate "nuclear sharing" in the Asia Pacific region, and reduce nuclear risks through practical actions. In this regard, both nuclear weapon states and non nuclear weapon states should play an active role.

Thirdly, we must adhere to true multilateralism and uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation system. The comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue is the correct and effective way to resolve it. All parties should increase diplomatic efforts, restart negotiations as soon as possible, and restore the complete and effective implementation of the agreement. The crux of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula lies in the lack of a peace mechanism and the lingering remnants of the Cold War. All parties should adhere to resolving reasonable security concerns through dialogue and balance, and promote the establishment of a peace mechanism and the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula according to the "dual track" approach. At the same time, the international community should continue to support the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Nuclear weapon states should ratify the protocols related to the treaty as soon as possible. China reiterates its willingness to take the lead in signing the protocol to the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty.

No country should prioritize geopolitical interests over nuclear non-proliferation. The cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines violates the purpose and purpose of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, undermines the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards system, poses a serious risk of nuclear proliferation, and undermines regional peace and stability. The Chinese side advocates discussing relevant safeguard and supervision issues through an open, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable intergovernmental process, and making decisions through consultation and consensus.

Fourthly, we must prioritize development and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Currently, the global nuclear power development momentum is strong, and the international community, especially developing countries, has an increasing demand for peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear technology. China supports the International Atomic Energy Agency's central role in promoting international cooperation in nuclear energy, and advocates increasing financial and technical assistance to developing countries to help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China supports multilateral export control mechanisms, but opposes some countries using the banner of anti proliferation, ideological demarcation, generalization of national security concepts, and using export control as a political tool for decoupling and breaking links.

The peaceful use of nuclear energy cannot come at the cost of sacrificing the natural environment and human health. The Japanese government should fully respond to the international community's concerns about the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge plan, fulfill its moral responsibility and international legal obligations, stop forcefully promoting the discharge plan, communicate with neighboring countries in a sincere manner, ensure the safe disposal of nuclear contaminated water, and accept strict international supervision.

China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a maintainer of international order. China is willing to work hand in hand with all parties to continuously strengthen the universality, authority, and effectiveness of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, respond to complex and intertwined international security and development challenges with a win-win mindset, pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation, keep the driving force of development flowing, let the light of civilization shine brightly, and inject more stability and certainty into this turbulent and changing era.

Finally, I wish this preparatory meeting success.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.