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Nuclear Responsibilities: A Chinese Perspective
Time:2021-06-01 10:49         Author:军控协会         Source:未知

Invited by the British American Security Information Council (BASIC) and Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham, CACDA has joined the discussions on the Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities. The purpose of the Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities is to stimulate and deepen a global dialogue on the responsibilities that surround nuclear weapons. Through this inclusive and normative conversation, the Programme aims to reduce strategic distrust, build trust and confidence, and as a result, reduce nuclear risks.

Mr. Zhou Chang, the Director & Research Fellow for Strategic Security Programme of CACDA, provides his perspective on the Nuclear Responsibilities in the following piece of paper, which is co-published between CACDA, BASIC and the ICCS.

The global strategic security and arms control environment has been facing severe challenges in recent years. The deterioration of major power relations exacerbates each other’s mistrust, shaking the foundation of global strategic stability. The erosion of the international arms control regime greatly increases the risk of an arms race. Furthermore, the adoption by some states of a more aggressive and war-fighting nuclear strategy triggers more and more concerns from the international community on the possible use of nuclear weapons and risk of nuclear war, with a particular focus on what the responsibilities of nuclear weapon states are to reduce these risks.

China is one of the five nuclear-weapon States recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council. China’s perceptions of nuclear responsibilities are a vital part of the global endeavor against the rigorous challenges in the field of strategic security. From my point of view, one may apprehend China’s basic thinking on the issue of nuclear responsibilities from two aspects. 

To begin with, the obligations of a state party under the relevant international laws are usually regarded as their primary and essential nuclear responsibilities. The NPT is the most important and universal international treaty in the nuclear field. China, together with other States Parties, have the obligation to implement nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy as stipulated in the treaty, which should be reckoned as the common nuclear responsibilities shared by all countries.

Besides that, how a country thinks about nuclear responsibilities lies more often in its nuclear policy and practice. Among all nuclear-weapon States, China’s nuclear policy is the most consistent and stable one, which helps us to acquire a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of China’s view on nuclear responsibilities. Based on the analysis of China’s longtime nuclear policy and practice, it appears that the nuclear responsibilities China advocates include at least the following:

The complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. On the very first day that China came into possession of nuclear weapons in 1964, the Chinese government issued a statement proposing a summit of world leaders to discuss the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. Since then, the promotion of complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons has frequently appeared in China’s official documents, such as China’s national report submitted to the NPT review process, the Defense White Paper, etc, which can be regarded by China as the ultimate nuclear responsibility.

Restricting the use of nuclear weapons. In the statement issued by the Chinese government in 1964, China proposed that nuclear-weapon States should undertake not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States, not to use nuclear weapons against nuclear-weapon-free zones, and not to use nuclear weapons against each other. China also declared that it will never be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances. In practice, China has consistently adhered to the no-first-use (NFU) pledge, provided unconditional negative security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States and actively sought a commitment to mutual no-first-use of nuclear weapons with other nuclear-weapon States, which demonstrates that China believes restricting the use of nuclear weapons is an important nuclear responsibility for nuclear-weapon States. (军控协会)