(The Hague, March 5, 2024)
Mr. Chairman,
On the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to welcome you to chair another session of the Executive Council. The Chinese delegation wishes to assure you and other delegations of its support and cooperation to complete this session smoothly. China associates itself with the statement delivered by Uganda on behalf of the States Parties of the Non-Aligned Movement and China. Now, please allow me to elaborate further on China’s positions.
Mr. Chairman,
The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. The international system is sustaining the adverse impacts caused by protectionism and the abuse of the security concept. Mutual trust and cooperation are severely jeopardized by unilateralism and bloc politics. The geopolitical situation continues to intensify and regional hotspot issues are popping up from time to time. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are developing rapidly. The deficits in peace, development, security and governance continue to worsen. The international strategic security and arms control process are facing serious and complex challenges.
While lose-lose is not a rational option, win-win is the future of mankind. Against the backdrop of the current situation, President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Security Initiative, which advocates the following: upholding the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; practising the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance. China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and advocates the building a global community with a shared future for mankind.
The CWC is an important pillar of global security governance. It also provides an important international legal basis for promoting the development of the economy and technology in chemical field. China calls on the SPs to take this session as an opportunity to review the original aspiration of the Convention, uphold its objects and purposes, improve the governance mechanism, uphold the Convention’s authority, promote unity and cooperation, and inject more stability into this turbulent world. To this end, China wishes to share the following four propositions.
First, we should firmly advance the destruction of chemical weapons abandoned by Japan on the territory of China (JACWs). With the completion of the destruction of the global CW stockpiles, the JACW has turned into the biggest challenge to the realization of a “world free of CWs”. Without the elimination of this top obstacle, we would never enter the so-called “post-destruction era”. In the recent years, despite certain progress made, the overall JACW destruction process is still lagging badly behind. Less than a quarter of the approximately 400,000 items discovered so far have been destroyed. The destruction deadline has been postponed four times. The current process is hindered by the challenges such as the lack of information on burial sites and severe water and soil contamination. Due to Japan's unwillingness to set a clear time limit, the medium- and long-term excavation and recovery operation plans for Jiamusi, Shangzhi, and Hunchun haven’t yet been formulated within 2023 in accordance with the new destruction plan. China urges Japan to resolve this issue as soon as possible.
Over the past 27 years since the entry into force of the Convention, China has made tremendous efforts and fully cooperated with Japan for the destruction of JACWs, such as investing human and material resources, providing venues for destruction, and facilitating the Japanese personnel’s transportation and accommodation arrangements in China. I wish to reiterate that the destruction of JACWs is Japan’s responsibility and obligation, is by no means any “investment and contribution”. China urges Japan to implement the new destruction plan in a comprehensive, complete, accurate and safe manner, redouble its efforts and inputs, expedite the destruction process and address the issues of contaminated water and soil properly, so as to return to the Chinese people a clean land at an early date. China commends the TS for its efforts in monitoring and verifying the JACWs destruction.
This year, China and Japan will invite the Director-General and the Executive Council delegation to visit the operation facilities for the destruction of JACWs in China. As the saying goes, "a sight is worth a hundred words." This is the first time to resume the on-site visit of the EC delegation to China since 2019. All parties are welcome to join. I believe it will help promote discussion on the issue of JACWs.
Second, we should firmly safeguard the spirit of the Convention. The investigation mechanism proscribed by the Convention is the fundamental basis for addressing the alleged use of CWs. In the recent years, out of the selfish geopolitical interests, some SPs have disregarded the established mechanism and investigation procedures under the Convention and created the so-called “Investigation and Identification Team”, whose work is beyond the mandate of the Convention, for conducting the so-called attribution investigation. This has caused fierce confrontation within the organization and seriously undermined the authority and effectiveness of the Convention.
The root cause of the long-overdue Syrian CW dossier is not because that the Convention has outdated, but that it is hijacked by the Cold War mentality and bloc politics and, as a result, has not been effectively implemented. Facts have proven repeatedly that the so-called “attribution mechanism” and exerting political pressure will get nowhere. China calls upon all parties to bring the investigation of the alleged use of CWs back to the right track, and with the Convention as the yardstick and facts as the basis, draw conclusions which could stand the test of history and time. China appreciates the recent progress made by Syria and the Secretariat on the Syrian chemical weapons issue, and calls on all parties to create favourable conditions for addressing the Syrian CW dossier. China encourages Syria and the TS to work with each other toward the same direction and resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue and cooperation.
Third, we should deepen international cooperation. The four pillars of the Convention, namely, disarmament, non-proliferation, protection and assistance, and peaceful use, should be advanced in a comprehensive, balanced and effective manner. China will, within the scope of its capabilities, support the OPCW in promoting international cooperation and capacity building. Last year, China provided donations to the OPCW to jointly carry out several projects in the Centre for Chemistry and Technology (CCT), such as the Coordinated Research Projects under the OPCW Fellowship Programme, and the analytical chemistry course for laboratories supporting customs services, which have both received positive feedback. This October, China will host a training course on medical aspects of assistance and protection against chemical weapons in Xi’an, with a view to assisting the SPs in enhancing their capacities in preventing and responding to chemical emergencies. China is committed to making more pragmatic cooperation, contributing to strengthening the capabilities of the developing countries, and promoting the full and balanced implementation of the Convention. China calls on the OPCW to continue diversifying the “toolbox” for international cooperation and increase the input of resources, so that the scientific and technological achievements in chemistry can benefit the developing countries effectively.
The UNGA has adopted the resolution on “Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security” submitted by China in two consecutive years. Last year, during the fifth Review Conference of the Convention, the Chinese delegation submitted, on behalf of 15 SPs, the “Position Paper on Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses under the Framework of the CWC”. The resolution and position paper both reiterated that peaceful use is an inalienable right of all countries, which reflected the strong voice of developing countries. China urges certain states to stop overstretching the concept of security, refrain from abusing export control, and put an end to undermining the developing countries’ rights to peaceful use. This year, China will once again submit the resolution to the UNGA, and China welcomes the support from all parties.
Fourth, we should strengthen security governance. In the recent years, the emerging technologies, represented by AI, have been developing at a speed beyond imagination. The risks and challenges that they pose to the process of chemical arms control and non-proliferation cannot be ignored. The OPCW should adopt a forward-looking approach in this regard. Last year, China issued the Global AI Governance Initiative, which advocates the governance concepts of “people-centred” and “AI for the good”, supports the UN in serving as the main platform for the global AI governance, and calls for increasing the developing states’ representation and right to speak in terms of global AI governance. The Chinese delegation has noted that this year, the OPCW plans to organize several events on AI and other emerging technologies. China supports that the relevant discussion is proceeded in an open and inclusive manner, while ensuring a broad and in-depth participation of all the parties. Recently, the SPs have been paying more and more attention to the issue of reforming the inspection mechanism. China is prepared to continue to engage constructively in this process. China advocates the faithful implementation of the principle of geographical balance and the promotion of a reasonable and equitable distribution of the inspection.
Mr. Chairman,
As the state with the world’s largest chemical industry, China has always implemented the Convention in an effective and exemplar way. So far, China has received over 600 OPCW inspections of all categories. China has constantly improved its implementation legislation, submitted its declarations timely and strengthened its management of the trade of chemicals. China has also paid great attention to public advocacy and regular training for the local departments and facilities, so as to further raise the public awareness of implementation of the Convention. Through such efforts, China is making important contributions to upholding the universality and effectiveness of the Convention.
Mr. Chairman,
China is dedicated to the building of a global community with a shared future for mankind. In the recent years, China has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. They have enriched the content and the path of implementation of the vision of a global community with a shared future for mankind. In adherence to this vision, China will continue to work with all parties in an unremitting effort to attain the vision of building a world free of CWs.
The Chinese delegation requests that this statement be circulated as an official document of this session and published on the OPCW’s public website and catalyst.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.