Working Paper Submitted by China

Since the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 2022, major power competition has been compounded by geopolitical conflicts, uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the international security and development arena are prominent, and differences in global governance system in the nuclear area are complex. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nation and the 55th anniversary of the NPT’s entry into force. The international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime with the NPT as its cornerstone has come to a critical juncture.

Lasting international peace and security cannot be built on the accumulation of weapons by military alliances, nor can it be sustained by relying on fragile balance of deterrence force or seeking strategic dominance. The international community should practice true multilateralism, firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, uphold the inseparability of peace and security, economic and social development, take effective actions to ease tensions and settle disputes by peaceful means, and work together for practical outcomes of the current NPT review cycle, give full play to the role of the NPT in promoting peace and development in the new era, advance international security governance, and accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In light of the above, China suggests that NPT States Parties fully draw lessons from past two consecutive NPT review cycles ending without a consensual outcome, build on the work of the first and second PrepCom for the 11th NPT Review conference, take a rational and pragmatic attitude, strengthen dialogue and consultation, seek consensus on the following elements and include them in the final document of the 11th Review Conference in 2026.

1. General Principle

Uphold true multilateralism, advocate the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, reject jointly the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, promote building a global nuclear governance system that features “NPT for peace and development” .

Advance the three pillars of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy in a balanced way, maintain the authority, effectiveness and universality of the NPT, consolidate the international non-proliferation regime with the NPT as its cornerstone, eliminate the risk of nuclear war, make unremitting efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. States that have not yet joined the NPT should do so as non-nuclear-weapon States as soon as possible.

(军控协会)