| PROMOTE
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, WORK FOR COMPLETE PROHIBITION AND THOROUGH DESTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS |
| ????To eliminate nuclear weapons and root out the dangers of nuclear war is the common wish of the people throughout the world. It is also an objective that the Chinese Government and people have been unswervingly striving for. Let us all work together for the ultimate realization of a nuclear-weapon- free world. |
????On 31 July 1963, the Chinese Government proposed in its statement that all the nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states throughout the world solemnly declare the complete and thorough prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons with resolute efforts. |
????China has always taken a responsible and prudent attitude towards nuclear weapon development. Its nuclear arsenal has been kept at a very limited level and its nuclear weapons are solely for self-defense purpose. China has never used nuclear weapons to threaten other countries, nor has it participated in nuclear arms race or deployed nuclear weapons outside its border. |
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 Comparison of Nuclear Test Number |
????China firmly opposes nuclear arms race and holds that the nuclear-weapon states with the biggest stockpiles should undertake special responsibility for nuclear disarmament and take lead in reducing their nuclear arsenals and delivery systems, so as to pave way for the other nuclear-weapon states to join the nuclear disarmament process. |
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 Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen is signing on CTBT |
| ????China
has always maintained that the comprehensive ban of nuclear test constitutes
an important step in the process of reaching the goal of complete
prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. In order
to push forward the global nuclear disarmament process, Chinese Government
proposed in October 1993 the conclusion of a Comprehensive Nuclear-
Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) through negotiations no later than 1996. Thereafter,
China actively took part in the negotiations of the treaty. On July
29, 1996, China declared the moratorium of nuclear testing. China
was among the first group of countries to sign the CTBT on September
24, 1996, when the Treaty was open for signature. Since then, China
has actively supported and participated the preparatory work for the
implementation of the treaty. ???? China supports an early conclusion of a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) in accordance with an agreed program of work at the Conference on Disarmament. In 1993, China was in favor of the UN resolution on the conclusion of a multilateral, non-discriminatory, internationally and effectively verifiable FMCT. In April 1997, China, US, Russia, France and Britain issued a joint statement supporting an early conclusion of the FMCT through negotiations on the basis of "Shannon Report" and the mandate contained therein. ???? In 1994, China proposed at the 49th session of UN General Assembly that an international Convention on the Comprehensive Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons be concluded. ????China consistently opposes the development and deployment of outer-space weapon systems and missile defense system that undermines the global strategic balance and stability. On December 1, 1999, China, Russia and Byelorussia cosponsored the Resolution on the Preservation of and Compliance by the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which was adopted by the 54th session of the UN General Assembly, with a view to preserving the global strategic security and stability, and maintaining the momentum of nuclear disarmament. ???? China shut down the nuclear weapon development base in Qinghai province, which was formally handed over to the local government in May 1995 after the environment restoration. (The photo on the cover of this booklet is a monument to the decommissioned base) |