I.In 2021 and 2022, the Resolution titled “Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security” was adopted respectively at the 76th and 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (A/RES/76/234 and A/RES/77/96).
The resolution aims to strengthen the role of the United Nations, promote dialogue and cooperation, advance non-proliferation and peaceful uses in a coordinated way, with a view to safeguarding all Member States’ legal and legitimate right to peaceful use of science and technology, while at the same time addressing properly the security challenges brought by the development of science and technology.
China attaches great importance to the Resolution. To promote the implementation of the Resolution has been listed as one of the priorities of cooperation under the Global Security Initiative. China will continue to uphold the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, advocate the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance, strive to build a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory non-proliferation and export control order.
China has submitted the updated Resolution (A/C.1/79/L.53) to the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations and hopes the international society to support it and jointly push forward the implementation of the Resolution.
II.The core content of the adopted Resolution includes the following:
First, the Resolution has reviewed rights and obligations relating to peaceful uses systematically. It emphasizes that measures preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons should not hamper international cooperation on peaceful uses, and it’s the inalienable right of all States to participate in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for peaceful purposes.
Second, the Resolution has evaluated the progress and challenges relating to international cooperation on peaceful uses. It welcomes the commitments and concrete efforts by Member States in promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses, as well as the progress made within multilateral frameworks and through bilateral channels. It expresses concerns on the undue restrictions on exports to developing countries, and emphasizes that non-proliferation control arrangements should ensure that no restrictions be imposed on access to materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes required by developing countries for their continued sustainable development.
Third, the Resolution has set out a road map for advancing international cooperation on peaceful uses. It emphasizes that this important topic needs to be further deliberated within the framework of the United Nations in an open and inclusive way. It urges all Member States to take concrete measures to promote international cooperation on peaceful uses, and not to maintain any restrictions incompatible with the obligations undertaken. It encourages dialogues on promoting peaceful uses and relevant international cooperation.
III.China believes that the framework and text of the adopted Resolution (A/RES/77/96) remains balanced and effective. Therefore, based on this version and taking into consideration the comments and suggestions of all parties, China has drafted the updated resolution(A/C.1/79/L.53). The main updates are as follows:
First, further clarifying the original aspiration of the international non-proliferation system. In PP3, while reaffirming all Member States need to fulfill their obligations in relation to arms control and disarmament and non-proliferation, the draft resolution incorporates the phrase “must also abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”.
Second, further explicating the relations between development and security. A new language has been incorporated in PP6 to recognize that promoting development and international security are mutually reinforcing. A new paragraph is added after PP8 to emphasize that promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses and capacity building is conducive to enhancing the authority and effectiveness of multilateral non-proliferation treaties.
Third, further clarifying the inherent connection between the right to peaceful use and the right to development. The right to peaceful use is not a byproduct of fulfilling the non-proliferation obligations, but the inevitable requirement of all states to realize their right to development. Therefore, based on the outcome document of the Summit of the Group of 77 and China held in September 2023, a new language has been added to recognize the opportunities offered by science, technology and innovation for the full enjoyment of the right to development. The draft resolution further stresses that particular attention should be paid to the benefit and the interests of developing countries. Based on The Pact for the Future which has been concluded by the Summit of the Future in September 2024, the draft resolution welcomes the commitments to support developing countries to peacefully harness science and technology to achieve sustainable development.
Fourth, further identifying the challenges facing international cooperation on peaceful uses. Based on the language of outcome documents of the Summit of the Group of 77 and China and the 19th NAM Summit, the draft resolution emphasizes that peaceful use is faced with undue and increasing restrictions, especially unilateral coercive measures that violate international law .
Fifth, further indicating the way forward. In OP2, while keeping the language on encouraging all Member States to take concrete measures to promote international cooperation on peaceful uses and continue dialogues, the draft resolution incorporates “formulating guiding principles as appropriate” as one of the possible ways forward.
IV.China attaches great importance to the advises and suggestions put forward by other countries on the Resolution, and would like to further stress the following points.
First, the objectives of promoting peaceful use and strengthening international non-proliferation effort are mutually reinforcing. Necessary export control measures are conducive to the realization of non-proliferation goals and reducing security risks, and creating stable and sustainable environment for development. Meanwhile, restrictive measures should not undermine States’ right to peaceful uses, which is necessary to safeguard the right to development of all States, and will contribute to enhancing confidence of the international community in relevant international laws and mechanisms on non-proliferation.
Second, promoting peaceful use will not undermine the existing non-proliferation control arrangements. The object and purposes of the Resolution are completely consistent with that of the existing arrangements. For example, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) stresses that international trade and cooperation in the nuclear field should not be hindered unjustly. The Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) emphasizes that it will not be directed against any state or group of states and will not impede bona fide civil transactions. The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Australian Group (AG) highlight that their guidelines are not intended to impede national space programs, chemical or biological trade or relevant international cooperation. In contrast, a certain country openly expressed its intention to rebuild a “Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom)” in the depth of the Cold War. Such practice will only lead the existing arrangements to a dead end.
The existing arrangements all take dialogue and outreach as priorities. The multilateral dialogue process established by the Resolution at the UN General Assembly may help improve the legitimacy and authority of these arrangements. China encourages these arrangements to further enhance transparency, and further explain to the international community the endeavors to realize their objects and purposes, and particularly the necessity and rationality of tightening control on certain items and technologies, while taking into consideration the advises and suggestions of other countries.
Third, promoting peaceful use will not undermine the national sovereignty over export control. All countries have the right to safeguard their national security, and undertake the responsibility to maintain international security. Therefore, States have the sovereignty to control dual use equipment, materials and technologies as necessary. The Resolution has never denied the rationality and legitimacy of these international common practices.
Fourth, undue restrictions on peaceful uses have long existed. Upon request of the Resolution, the Secretary-General submitted a report to the 77th session of the General Assembly (A/77/96). Many specific examples have been listed in this report. The outcome documents of the Summit of the Group of 77 and China in September 2023 and the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in January 2024 have reiterated the call for removing undue restrictions on peaceful uses, which have been imposed on developing countries for many years.
A certain country claims that export controls apply to less than one percent of all global trade. However, such one percent are cutting-edge equipment and technologies, which is key to bridging North-South technology gap and develop gap. A certain country also claims that only a single-digit percentage of export license applications have been denied. However, these denied applications are mostly submitted by developing countries, which will lock them at the low end of the international division of labor system.
Fifth, participating in the global governance on non-proliferation and export control issues is also the inalienable right of all Member States. Non-proliferation, especially countering proliferation activities of terrorists, is a global challenge which requires full participation and cooperation of all countries. Meanwhile, it is essential for all countries to access relevant items and technologies for peaceful purposes in the fields of nuclear, biology, chemistry, electronics, communication, aerospace and aviation, etc., in order to achieve the sustainable development goals. Developing countries should be fully guaranteed their right to participate in the relevant rule-making and mechanism-building processes. The developing countries represented by the Non-Aligned Movement have been continuously emphasizing that proliferation concerns are best addressed through multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive and non-discriminatory agreements.