Pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly resolution 79/241 entitled Comprehensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones in all its aspects, the Government of China presents herewith the following positions and views on comprehensive study of nuclear-weapon-free zones: 

1.The establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, as a key step toward a world without nuclear weapons, is conducive to preventing nuclear proliferation, promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and establishing a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture. It is also conducive to realize common security and universal security, safeguard the peaceful and stable development of all countries and in conformity with the common interest of mankind.

2.The international community should continue to support the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in accordance with Article VII of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as well as the the principles and guidelines for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone recommended by the UN Disarmament Commission in its report of April 30, 1999. Both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States should refrain from any actions that undermine or deteriorate the status of nuclear-weapon-free zones.

3.Non-nuclear-weapon States have made significant contributions to the cause of nuclear non-proliferation through establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones. It is regretting that until now, only the Additional Protocol II to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean has been approved by all five nuclear-weapon States. Nuclear-weapon States should support the efforts of establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, respect their legal status, sign and ratify additional protocols to treaties on nuclear-weapon-free zones open for signature as soon as possible. Nuclear-weapon Sates should support the position and efforts to establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. Israel should accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon State as soon as possible, concretely comply with the NPT obligations, and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and its Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency as soon as possible. 

4.Nuclear-weapon States have provided security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States through such means as UNSC resolution, national statements and the signing and ratification of protocols to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties, but in most cases with reservations attached. The existing nuclear-weapon-free zones do not cover all regions and all non-nuclear-weapon States. For example, the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East faces realistic obstacles. Under the new international security situation, providing negative security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States has become a more and more relevant and urgent issue.

5.The international community should conclude an international legal instrument as soon as possible on not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones and engage in in-depth discussion during the NPT review process. Before concluding such an instrument, all nuclear-weapon States should make public statements to unconditionally undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones.

6.The role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in promoting nuclear non-proliferation has been universally acknowledged. However, the international community should conduct further studies on nuclear-weapon-free zones’ profound influences and potential effects on wide-ranging aspects, such as promoting inter-regional security dialogues, lowering military expenditure, enhancing mutual understanding and trust between countries, and establishing other regional security structure. For example, we have noticed that the Latin American nuclear-weapon-free zone has gradually evolved to a “zone of peace”. In January, 2014, the second summit of Community of Latin American and Caribbean States released Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.

7.Certain nuclear-weapon States have forged military alliances and attempted to strengthen the so-called nuclear sharing and extended deterrence arrangements or even replicate new ones. Further discussion should be conducted on political, legal and technological impact of these aforementioned actions on existing and future nuclear-weapon-free zones. Will the status of nuclear-weapon-free zones be seriously affected, if participating states to those zones, in military alliance with nuclear-weapon States, establish military infrastructure in their territories to support the activities of nuclear forces? Will participation in the above arrangements diminish the willingness of non-nuclear-weapon States to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones or conclude an international legal instrument on security assurances? These issues are gaining more and more attention of the international community. 

8.The nuclear-powered submarine cooperation among the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia sets a precedent for the transfer of naval nuclear propulsion reactors and a large quantity of weapons-grade highly-enriched uranium materials from nuclear-weapon States to a non-nuclear-weapon State, in contravention of the object and purpose of the NPT, and thus constitutes serious risks of nuclear proliferation. Such action will undermine the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and damage the efforts of ASEAN countries to establish the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.

9.China firmly supports the international efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. China adheres to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and is unequivocally committed not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally. Upon now, China has signed and ratified all protocols to treaties on nuclear-weapon-free zones that are open for signature, and is willing to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. China has issued the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper which clearly supports relevant countries to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones.

China hopes the above views will be reflected in the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.