(Geneva, July 2024)

Mr. Chair,

The establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, as a key step toward a world without nuclear weapons, is of great significance to achieving the goals of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, enhancing mutual trust among regional countries, as well as promoting global peace and security.

China has a long-standing policy of not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and unconditionally commits itself not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear States or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China is the only country among the P5 that has made such a commitment. Based on this policy, China firmly supports the international efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. In February 2023, China released the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, which explicitly supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones by countries in relevant regions. Up to now, China has signed and ratified all the open protocols to treaties on nuclear-weapon-free zones. China respects Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status, and is willing to sign the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone firstly.

China believes the international community should make more efforts to promote the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones:

First, nuclear-weapon States should take practical measures to support the efforts of establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones. The relevant country should ratify all the protocols to treaties on nuclear-weapon-free zones as soon as possible, respect the legal status of nuclear-weapon-free zones, and take measures to implement the relevant security assurances. Nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States should all refrain from taking actions that would undermine or damage the status of nuclear-weapon-free zones. The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine cooperation poses serious proliferation risks, and damages the regional efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones, which should be canceled immediately.  

Second, to 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. 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 at any time and under any circumstances.

Third, to eliminate the practical obstacles to the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones. The arrangement of nuclear sharing and extended deterrence violates the goals of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), reduces the space for the establishment of new nuclear-weapon-free zones, and diminishes the political willingness of countries participating such arrangement to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones, which is also unfair to countries in nuclear-weapon-free zones. The concerned nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States should abandon the narrow geopolitical interests and double standards, and withdraw the arrangement of nuclear sharing and extended deterrence.

Mr. Chair,

The aspiration of people in Middle East for being free from the threat of nuclear weapons is just and reasonable. The establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction can reduce the nuclear risks, prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, ease the tensions in Middle East, and promote peace and security in the region and the world. While promoting reconciliation and cooperation among countries in the Middle East and advancing the peace process of the Middle East, the international community should pay more attention and strongly support the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. Israel should accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon State as soon as possible，and place all of the nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The countries concerned should stop rhetorics threatening use of nuclear weapons, stop deliberately creating confrontation and inciting conflicts in the region, and make concrete contributions to regional security.

China has consistently supported the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, and took a constructive part in the four international conferences on the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction as an observer, working with all parties to inject new impetus into the process. China calls upon the relevant nuclear-weapon State and regional country to earnestly shoulder on the due responsibilities, actively response to the reasonable requests of Arab countries and positively participate in the process, and strive to establish  a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.