Export control plays an important role in maintaining global security, stability and peace, and promoting development, by preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

However, some Western countries have been using export control as a political tool to fulfill their narrow goals, even engaging in pseudo-multilateralism, thereby seriously undermining the rights of other countries to peaceful uses of controlled items and relevant international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.

The white paper on export control released by the State Council Information Office on Wednesday elaborates on China's position, institutions and practices in improving export control governance and calls on all other countries to steer international export control toward the right direction of being fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory and reflects the will and interests of the majority of countries in a more balanced way. As such, it can help turn global export control into a "universal tool" that serves world peace and development and benefits all countries and peoples.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across the world and the global situation undergoing rapid changes, international export control faces new, serious challenges. The export control measures some countries have unilaterally adopted are eroding the existing order based on international law. Such measures are a deviation from the original intention of global export control to serve common security and development.

In recent years, some countries, especially the United States, have used export control measures as a tool to achieve their political objectives. The US has generalized the concept of national security and, with its military strength, financial hegemony and superiority in high-tech, exerted immense pressure on "enemy" and "rival" countries. Such have been its machinations that even third-party countries have not escaped its "long-arm jurisdiction".

By doing so, the US has hampered the sustainable development of other countries. After all, if a country puts its national interests above the common interests of the international community, all countries will suffer.

The US has drawn up numerous export control blacklists, wantonly suppressing other countries' high-tech enterprises, and sabotaging global industrial, supply and value chains. It has taken unilateral actions, formed cliques and alliances, and obstructed normal global scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.

On the pretext of defending "human rights" and "democracy", Washington has imposed sanctions on other countries and interfered in their internal affairs. These acts in total disregard of international law and the basic norms of international relations, are nothing but bullying of other countries, and go against the trend of the times and have come in for severe criticism by the international community.

The only right way is to pull back before it is too late and come back to multilateral export control governance in line with the international trend to seek peace and development.

Effective multilateral governance will ensure that export control promotes global development and safeguard national and global security. When any individual country places its narrow national interests above the common interests of the international community, all countries will suffer. International governance of export control has a bearing on global development and the interests of all countries, and therefore should be decided by all countries through consultation, rather than by only a single country or a few countries.

International governance of export control has always been benchmarked against common security and development of the world. Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles remains a vital matter of survival or extinction for mankind. Observing international non-proliferation obligations is the bottom line. All countries should strictly implement their international obligations, honor the relevant commitment and jointly crack down on illegal activities in nuclear, biological, chemical, missile and other sensitive fields. (军控协会)