China committed to int'l mechanisms on arms control

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-20 14:22

The Chinese government has always attached importance to and been supportive of international efforts in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, said a white paper.

In a defense white paper issued in Beijing Tuesday, China reaffirmed its resolve and measures to support the international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

It was the first time that China's defense white paper devoted a whole chapter to arms control and disarmament.

On nuclear disarmament, the paper said: "China holds all nuclear-weapon states should make an unequivocal commitment to the thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, and reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their national security policy."

China supported the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, and will continue to honor its moratorium commitment on nuclear testing, the paper said.

"China will not be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and in any circumstances, and will unconditionally not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or in nuclear-weapon-free zones," it said.

China called on other nuclear-weapon states to make the same commitments and conclude an international legal instrument in this regard.

China maintained the global missile defense program would be detrimental to strategic balance and stability, it said.

On the prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, China observed its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and supports the multilateral efforts aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the Convention.

On non-proliferation, the paper said China firmly opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery, and actively takes part in international non-proliferation efforts.

The paper, the sixth of its kind Chinese government issued since 1998, gives an overall picture of China's national defense ranging from the security environment, national defense policy, to defense expenditure and arms control.