Mr. Chair,

Many congratulations on your chairmanship of the GGE on LAWS. Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems, or LAWS, is a topic at the forefront of global AI governance and is keenly followed by the international community. China is ready to collaborate closely with you and all delegations to further broaden consensus based onprevious discussions.

China attaches great importance to global AI governance. In October 2023, China proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, calling on countries to uphold a people-centered approach, develop AI for good, commit to a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, build consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and create open, fair and efficient governing mechanisms. The Initiative stressed that the development of AI must respect relevant international laws and that all countries, especially major ones, should adopt a prudent and responsible attitude to the research, development and application of AI technologies in the military field, and ensure that AI always remains under human control.

Mr. Chair,

The discussions made under the CCW framework gained continued progress, and the positions of various sides regarding multiple topics started to find common ground. Last year, the second session of the GGE on LAWS produced a substantive report, which reflects the unique value of this group. Meanwhile, as AI becomes more advanced and its applications more widespread, the international community met with great opportunities, as well as novel challenges in terms of improving the governance of the military use of new and emerging technologies including AI.

LAWS is a product of technical advancement and revolution in military affairs. The related issues, involving a range of factors, are of a complicated nature. Except for humanitarian concerns, all sides should also heed the grim potential of an arms race, act on the principles of equal, common and universal security in handling LAWS-related issues, strike a balance between humanitarian concerns and military necessity, and also the impact of LAWS on strategic equilibrium and stability, oppose using LAWS as a tool to initiate wars and seek hegemony.

Mr. Chair,

I would like to take this opportunity to brief China’s positions on several issues to be discussed at this meeting.

China all along stands for the negotiation of a legally binding instrument regarding LAWS based on a common understanding of their characterization and definitions. I hope that this session would help contribute elements to a future instrument. In the absence of clear characterization and definitions, we may exercise tiered management on autonomous weapon systems as per their technical characteristics and relevant risks. China proposed five technical characteristics of “unacceptable LAWS”,and is ready to engage in further discussions with various sides.

China attaches great importance to the application of international humanitarian laws on LAWS. China believes that as a means and method of combat, LAWS are subject to the basic principles and stipulations of international humanitarian laws, including the Geneva Convention and its 1977 additional protocols. Great uncertainties remain, nevertheless, as to whether current international humanitarian laws are adequate in responding to the challenge posed by LAWS. The systems' capacity of distinction in a combat setting, their proportionality and accountability remain to be further studied.

At present, most countries, China included, have established strict review and assessment mechanisms for novel weapons, adopted necessary risk mitigation measures and confidence building measures, which are of positive significance. These measures, nevertheless, are not universally binding ones, and therefore cannot dispel the concerns surrounding LAWS in a fundamental way. China supports the discussion for an additional protocol which is similar to the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons and bans the use of fully autonomous lethal weapon systems.

Mr. Chair,

CCW, covering major military countries, whose high contracting parties have conducted in-depth discussions on LAWS issues with useful outcomes such as the 11 Guiding Principles, is the most appropriate venue for addressing LAWS issues.China will continue to participate in relevant processes under the framework of the CCW in a constructive way, together with all the other sides to move GGE forward with new progress in accordance of its mandate.

Thank you, Mr.Chair.