I. Basic Stand

China has always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, and is firmly against the proliferation of such weapons and their means of delivery. China does not support, encourage or assist any country in developing WMD and their means of delivery.

China firmly supports international non-proliferation efforts, and stands for the attainment of the non-proliferation goal through political and diplomatic means. To this end, on the one hand, the international non-proliferation mechanism should be constantly improved and export controls of individual countries further strengthened; on the other hand, proliferation issues should be dealt with through dialogue and international cooperation.

The fundamental purpose of non-proliferation is to safeguard and promote international and regional peace and security, and non-proliferation measures should be conducive to achieving this goal. The proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery have its complicated causes and are closely related to the international and regional security environment. Promoting the universal improvement of international relations, achieving security for all, and fairly and reasonably settling relevant regional security issues will be conducive to international non-proliferation efforts to proceed in a smooth manner.

Universal participation of the international community in non-proliferation efforts is essential and that a fair, rational and non-discriminatory nature of the non-proliferation regime must be ensured. Both the improvement of the existing mechanisms and the establishment of new ones should be based on the universal participation of all countries and democratic decision making process. Unilateralism and double standards should be abandoned, and great importance be attached and full play given to the role of the United Nations.

Given the dual-use nature of relevant materials, equipment and technologies in the nuclear, biological, chemical and aerospace fields, it is important that all countries, in implementing their non-proliferation policies, strike a proper balance between non-proliferation and international cooperation for peaceful use of relevant high technologies. In this connection, on the one hand, under the precondition of achieving the non-proliferation objective, the rights of all countries, especially the developing countries, to utilize and share dual-use scientific and technological achievements and products for peaceful purposes should be guaranteed; on the other hand, it is also necessary to prevent any country from engaging in proliferation activities under the pretext of peaceful use.

II. Actively Participating in International Non-Proliferation Efforts

China actively participates in nonproliferation process at both regional and international levels. Up to date, China supports the United Nations to play its due role in nonproliferation area and has signed all international treaties in this field and joined all relevant international organizations.

In the nuclear field, China joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1984, and voluntarily placed its civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. It acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1992, and was among the first countries to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. China became a member of the Zangger Committee in 1997. China signed the Additional Protocol to the Agreement Between China and IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in China in 1998, and in early 2002 formally completed the domestic legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Additional Protocol, thus becoming the first nuclear-weapon state to complete such procedures. China has actively participated in the work of the IAEA, the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO and other related international organizations. It supports the IAEA’s efforts to prevent potential nuclear terrorist activities, and has played an active and constructive role in amending the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials. China joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in May, 2004.

China has actively supported relevant countries in their efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. It has signed and ratified the relevant protocols to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco), the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga), the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), and the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. China has made clear commitment to signing the protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Bangkok). 

In the biological field, China acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BWC) in 1984, and has strictly observed its obligations under the Convention. As from 1988, it has, on an annual basis, submitted to the UN the declaration data of the confidence-building measures for the BWC in accordance with the decision of its Review Conference. China is actively committed to enhancing the authority and effectiveness of the BWC.

In the chemical field, China played a positive role in the negotiation on and conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC). It signed the Convention in 1993 and deposited its instrument of ratification in 1997. China supports the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the CWC. China has promulgated and implemented relevant laws, established the National Authority for the implementation of the CWC, and has timely submitted initial declarations and various annual declarations. Until December 2023, China has received more than 656 on-site inspections by the OPCW.

In the missile field, China supports the international community in its efforts to prevent the proliferation of missiles and related technologies and materials, and adopts an open attitude toward all proposals for strengthening the missile non-proliferation mechanism. China constructively participated in the work of the UN Panel of Governmental Experts on Missiles in All Its Aspects.

China attaches importance to international exchange and cooperation in the area of nonproliferation and export control. China maintains constant dialogue and communication with the EU, the US, the UN Security Council 1540 Committee and other counties, organizations and plural-national export control regimes.

In December 2022, under the initiative of China, the 77th UN General Assembly adopted the resolution entitled "Promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security" for the second consecutive year, emphasizing the importance of peaceful use of science and technology and related international cooperation on economic and social development. The Resolution urges to lift undue restrictions on the use of science and technology of developing countries while fulfilling the international obligations of nonproliferation. The adoption of this resolution marks the beginning of an open, inclusive, and fair dialogue process within the framework of the UN General Assembly. It is of great significance for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of all countries in the peaceful use of science and technology, promoting the universal sharing of scientific and technological progress, and addressing security challenges brought by technological development. It helps to promote the more comprehensive and balanced implementation of international treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Biological Weapons Convention, and helps member states of existing non-proliferation and export control regimes strengthen dialogue and exchanges with other countries, better serving universal security and common development.

In October 2023, the Chinese delegation made a joint statement at the First Committee of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the co-sponsors of the the resolution entitled "Promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security", which reiterated that maximum participation in the exchange and cooperation of technology, equipment, and materials for peaceful purposes is an inalienable right granted to all countries by international law, and called on the international community to take measures to ensure the effective implementation of the resolution.

III. Strengthening Non-Proliferation Export Control System

The Chinese Government is of the view that effective export control serves as an important means to pursue the nonproliferation goal. As a country with certain capacity in industry, science and technology, China has adopted highly responsible policies and measures in this regard. After years of endeavors, China has completed a transition in its nonproliferation export control from an administrative pattern to one based on law with relevant measures basically in line with  international common practices.

The non-proliferation export control related legislation that the Chinese government has promulgated and implemented includes: the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China (2020), the Nuclear Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (2018), the Regulations on Nuclear Export Control of the People's Republic of China (revised in 2018), the Regulations on Export Control of Nuclear Dual Use Items and Related Technologies of the People's Republic of China (revised in 2018), the Regulations on Export Control of Biological Dual Use Items and Related Equipment and Technologies of the People's Republic of China (revised in 2006), the Regulations on the Administration of Controlled Chemicals of the People's Republic of China (revised in 2011) and the Implementation Rules (1997), the List of Various Controlled Chemicals (1996), the Measures for Export Control of Relevant Chemicals and Related Equipment and Technologies (2002), and the Missile Control Measures of the People's Republic of China. Regulations on Export Control of Related Items and Technologies (2002) Regulations on the Administration of Military Export of the People's Republic of China (revised in 2002), Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Licenses for Dual Use Items and Technologies (2006), etc.

The above-mentioned regulations and related control lists form a complete system for the export control of nuclear, biological, chemical, missiles and other sensitive items and technologies, as well as all military products. This system integrates the valuable experience of existing non-proliferation export control regimes and other countries with its own national conditions, and widely adopts prevailing export control methods and principles such as export registration system, licensing system, end-user and end-use certification and list control method.

In order to ensure the effective implementation of these laws and regulations, the Chinese Government spares no efforts in mechanism building, publicizing relevant policies and regulations, educating enterprises, and investigating and handling cases of violation. So far, a mechanism for clearer division of responsibility and coordination has been established among relevant government agencies. Immediately after the non-proliferation export control regulations are issued, the full text of the regulations and control lists are published in the professional publications and on the web sites of the government agencies, foreign trade enterprises and research institutes concerned. To ensure compliance by export enterprises at all stages of export, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs have formulated the Export Licensing Catalogue of Sensitive Items and Technologies (i.e. the commodities on the lists attached to relevant export control regulations bearing Customs HS codes). To ensure accurate and scientific decision in the process of license approval, competent authorities have set up an expert supporting system that consists of experts from relevant fields. The Chinese Government has also actively carried out public awareness campaigns to ensure implementation of the regulations by relevant enterprises and institutions, and established a system involving application, examination and approval, certificate issuance and customs control, inspection and clearance that applies to all interested exporters. The Chinese Government is also committed to enhancing capacity-building in the field of export control law enforcement, and attaches great importance to dealing with cases of violations relating to non-proliferation. It has established an inter-agency contingency coordinating mechanism for export control, and conducts serious investigations into suspected cases and deals with violators according to law. For the latest regulations on nonproliferation export control, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Commerce: http://aqygzj.mofcom.gov.cn/article/glml/.