Mr. Chair,

Non-nuclear-weapon States have assumed the obligation not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons, so they are entitled to the right of being free from the threat of nuclear weapons. It is urgent to address the issue of negative security assurances, which serves the security interests and meets the general expectations of non -nuclear-weapon States. It is also a “low-hanging fruit” in the field of nuclear disarmament and should be an important outcome of this review process. The Chinese delegation has submitted a working paper on the issue of negative security assurances to the second preparatory committee for the eleventh review conference of the Treaty, and is willing to further elaborate on the following propositions.

First, the Conference on Disarmament should commence substantive work at the earliest opportunity on reaching an international legal instrument that ensures no use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones. The negotiation of such an international legal instrument is built upon on the First Special Session of the General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament, the outcome documents of the Review Conferences of the NPT, and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. It is the most realistic and feasible nuclear disarmament measure at the current stage and should be a priority for the Conference on Disarmament.

Second, before negotiation and conclusion of such an international legal instrument, all nuclear-weapon States should issue public statements that undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones under any circumstances at any time.

Third, nuclear-weapon States should support efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones, respect the legal status of nuclear-weapon-free zones, and sign and ratify the protocols of relevant nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties, and take practical measures to implement relevant security assurances. All relevant parties should earnestly support the establishment of a Middle East Zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and participate constructively in the process of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Fourth, nuclear-weapon States should reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their national security policies, abandon nuclear deterrence policies based on the first-use of nuclear weapons, refrain from formulating nuclear deterrence policies against other countries, refrain from designating any country as a nuclear strike target, and refrain from targeting nuclear weapons under their control at other countries.

Fifth, nuclear-weapon States should abolish “nuclear sharing” and “extended deterrence” arrangements, withdraw all nuclear weapons deployed overseas back to their home countries, and cease the playing with fire behavior of forward deployment of strategic forces. Countries participating in “nuclear sharing” and “extended deterrence” arrangements should clarify whether they violate the obligations under Articles I and II of the Treaty. The issue of the rights and obligations of non-nuclear-weapon states participating in “nuclear sharing” and “extended deterrence” arrangements in future international legal instruments on negative security assurances merits in-depth discussion.

Mr. Chair,

China clearly undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and unconditionally undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China is the only nuclear-weapon State that has clearly made the above-mentioned undertakings. These policies have remained unchanged for over 60 years since China first possessed nuclear weapons and have withstood the test of the changing international situation.

China supports the Conference on Disarmament in commencing substantive work at the earliest opportunity on reaching an international legal instrument on negative security assurances, and adopts an open-minded attitude towards any other proposals or measures that help advance progress on the issue of negative security assurances. China has signed and ratified the relevant protocols of all nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties in Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Africa, and Central Asia, respects Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status, and actively supports the establishment a a Middle East Zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and is willing to be the first to sign the protocol of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.

China will work with all parties to continue making unremitting efforts to properly address the issue of negative security assurances.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.