Mr. Chairman:
As an important issue of Non-Proliferation Treaty, security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states is of great realistic significance in promoting nuclear disarmament process and preventing nuclear-weapon proliferation.
China believes that Security assurances shouldn't be regarded as a benefaction given by nuclear-weapon states to non-nuclear-weapon states. Having given up developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, non-nuclear-weapon states have contributed greatly to the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation and nuclear disarmament in the interest of world peace and stability. They ought to get security assurances from nuclear-weapon-states. Getting security assurances will enhance their sense of security, decrease the motives of acquiring nuclear weapons and will therefore playa positive role in the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation and building a favorable environment for nuclear disarmament. The non-nuclear weapon states are fully justified and reasonable to demand not to be threatened by nuclear weapons and to insist that the security assurances to be ensured in a legally-binding manner.
The fundamental solution to address the issue of security assurances is complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and getting rid off the threats of nuclear weapons. Pending the realization of this goal, all nuclear-weapon states should undertake not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any. circumstances, and undertake unconditionally not to use or threat to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, and to conclude international legal instruments without delay in this regard. Besides, the nuclear-weapon states should also diminish the role of nuclear weapons in their national security policy and refrain from listing any states as targets of nuclear strikes, and not targeting the
nuclear weapons under their control at any country. All these measures will be conducive to the progress on security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states.
Mr.Chairman,
China has all along committed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances, and committed unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China always calls upon other nuclear-weapon states to undertake such commitments and conclude an internal legally binding instrument in this regard. China supports the Conference on Disarmament to begin substantive work on concluding an international legally binding instrument on security assurances at an early date. China is open to any other suggestion or measure which is conducive to promoting the nuclear asssurances issue and will give it positive consideration. China calls on Nuclear-weapon states to support the efforts of non-nuclear-weapon states to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones and undertake corresponding obligations in a legally binding manner.
China hopes that the aspiration of non-nuclear-weapon states for unconditional universal and legally binding security assurances will be realized at an early date and we will, together with the international community, continue our endeavor to that end.
The Chinese delegation submitted a working paper entitled 'Nuclear Assurances Issue' and hopes its elements can be fully reflected in the report of the Prepcom.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.