Mr. Chair,

Today, outer space is facing increasingly severe security challenges. Certain country, seeking dominance in outer space, declared outer space as war-fighting domain, continued military build-up in outer space, and announced the Golden Dome programme, including its plan to deploy space-based anti-missile weapons in outer space, which makes an arms race in outer space a real threat, and undermines global strategic stability and lasting peace in outer space. The international community should join hands to prevent an arms race in outer space, and promote the building of a Community of Shared Future for humanity in outer space.

China consistently advocates peaceful uses of outer space, and opposes the weaponization of and arms races in outer space. Together with Russia, China has submmitted and actively supported the Draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT). China is committed to the early negotiation and conclusion of an international legally-binding instrument on outer space arms control, and calls on all parties to participate in relevant process in a constructive manner.

China wishes to propose the following:

Firstly, uphold the primary goal of the prevention of an arms race in outer space. Space war cannot be won and must never be fought. If we allow the trend of the weaponization of outer space and turning outer space into a battlefield continue to go unchecked, the peaceful uses of outer space will be impossible. The international community should focus on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, safeguard the rights of the peaceful uses and exploration of outer space of all States and guarantee the sustainable development of outer space.

Secondly, uphold international rule of law as fundamental guarantee. The UN Charter and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty have laid the foundation for the international space law system, and served as the fundamental rules for advancing outer space security governance. We should seek sustainable solutions through the implementation and development of existing international law. In particular, we need to fill the legal loopholes on the prohibition of placement of weapons in outer space, and define clear boundary for activities to prevent the weaponization of outer space.

Thirdly, we should work in a coordinated manner. China welcomes the start of substantive discussion in the Open-ended Working Group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects this year, and will support the Group in focusing on possible elements of a legally-binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, based on the consensus report adopted last year by the UN GGE on PAROS, and the programme of work of the OEWG on PAROS in all its aspects. At the same time, we can further discuss possible measures to address new challenges such as the deployment of weapons in outer space by certain States, and the interference of commercial space company in other States' armed conflict.

Fourthly, uphold multilateralism and the principle of consensus. We should maintain the inter-governmental nature of relevant working groups in the framework, and support the primary role of member states in this regard. We should, in accordance with relevant mandate, apply the consensus-based rules of procedure to the entire process of discussion, while taking into account the concerns of all States, so as to bridge the gap and build synergy to the greatest extent possible.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.