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(3) Nuclear nonproliferation

Promoting the settlement of nuclear nonproliferation issue through political and diplomatic efforts. China holds that all countries should abandon the Cold War mentality, fully respect each other's legitimate security concerns, promote peaceful settlement of the concerns of nuclear nonproliferation through political and diplomatic means, and eliminate the root causes of nuclear-weapons proliferation.

China always maintains that dialogue and consultation are the right solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. It has constructively participated in related negotiations, and in July 2015 it facilitated the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear issue. China will maintain an objective and impartial stance, actively promote peace talks, facilitate the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force or illegal sanctions.

With regard to the Korean Peninsula issue, China adopts an impartial stance and adheres to the right approach of always working for the peace, stability and prosperity of the peninsula and the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue through political means. China calls on relevant parties to desist from an approach based on aggressive deterrence and coercion, restart dialogue and negotiations, and play a constructive role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue through political means and realizing lasting peace and stability in the peninsula.

Firmly opposing double standards on nuclear nonproliferation and the practice of favoring geopolitical interests over the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. The nuclear submarine cooperation between the US, the UK, and Australia involves the first transfer of naval nuclear propulsion reactors and weapons-grade highly enriched uranium from nuclear-weapon states to a non-nuclear-weapon state. This apparently runs counter to the object and purpose of the NPT and severely undermines the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. China maintains that relevant safeguards arrangements should be thoroughly discussed by member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through an intergovernmental process, and decisions should be made by consensus. China firmly opposes nuclear sharing, extended deterrence, and other arrangements that undermine the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, and urges relevant countries to stop deploying nuclear weapons abroad.

Respecting and supporting efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. China respects and supports the efforts of relevant countries and regions to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones or zones free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) on the basis of their own consultations and voluntary agreements. Nuclear-weapon states should respect the status of nuclear-weapon-free zones and assume their corresponding obligations. China has signed and ratified the Additional Protocol II to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Protocols II and III to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, the Protocols I and II to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, and the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. China firmly supports the efforts of ASEAN countries to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone, and stands ready to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. China respects and welcomes the nuclear-weapon-free status of Mongolia. China supports similar efforts in the Middle East, and has constructively participated as an observer in the five sessions of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction from 2019 to 2024.

(4) Peaceful uses of nuclear energy

Actively conducting international cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China always maintains that efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons should not impede the legitimate rights of all countries, and in particular developing countries, to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. China opposes the politicization of peaceful uses of nuclear energy which may disrupt and restrict normal international cooperation. China has actively explored broader and deeper bilateral and multilateral nuclear cooperation, and promoted inclusive sharing of nuclear energy benefits. It has shared its technologies and experience with other countries, provided resources and platforms, and supported other developing countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, all while supporting the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for the benefit of humanity. China has signed intergovernmental cooperation agreements on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with more than 30 countries and regions, sent experts on more than 4,000 trips to serve countries in the Global South, and provided training sessions with over 6,000 recorded attendances from abroad.

Adhering to a rational, coordinated and balanced approach to nuclear safety and security and building a fair, collaborative, and mutually beneficial international nuclear security system. China has synergized multiple elements such as legal norms, administrative regulation, industry self-discipline, technical support, personnel support, cultural guidance, and public participation to build a robust accountability system for nuclear safety. This system has ensured nuclear and radiation safety and maintained a sound long-term nuclear safety record.

China has abided by the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and other international laws, fulfilled its international obligations, and supported the IAEA in playing an active role. It has helped other developing countries improve their nuclear safety and security capabilities, promoted international cooperation on combating nuclear terrorism, and prevented the acquisition of sensitive nuclear materials by non-state entities. China opposes any kind of attack on peaceful nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants. Nuclear terrorism is an enemy of all humanity, and the impact of nuclear security incidents transcends national borders. All countries should engage in nuclear security affairs and adopt an open and inclusive spirit to forge a community with a shared future on nuclear security.

2. Missiles and Missile Defense

The issue of missiles and missile defense has a significant impact on global strategic balance and stability. After the Cold War, a certain country withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) [The full names are: the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, and the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles.] and developed global strategic missile defense capabilities, blurring the line between missile defense and strategic offense on purpose and stirring up confrontation among major countries. This has severely undermined strategic mutual trust, increased strategic risks, and damaged global and regional security and stability. China has always addressed issues related to missiles and missile defense from the perspective of maintaining global strategic stability and improving mutual trust.

Firmly opposing the deployment of missiles and missile defense systems that undermine the legitimate security interests of other countries. In pursuit of absolute security, this certain country has advanced the Golden Dome global missile defense system without restraint and sought to deploy weapons in outer space, severely threatening outer space security. It has promoted the forward deployment of intermediate-range missile systems in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe and leveraged the military alliance system to facilitate the proliferation of related weapon systems and technologies, undermining the global strategic balance and stability. China firmly opposes such arrangements and urges the country to stop the development and deployment of global missile defense systems, and to cease the forward deployment of offensive weapons including missiles. China will resolutely counter any acts that threaten or undermine its core interests.

Properly developing missile technologies for self-defense. China has a vast territory and must deal with a complex and volatile security environment. To safeguard its security and sovereignty and deter wars, China requires modern military equipment and capabilities adapted to its conditions and needs. China's development of missile technologies and missile defense capabilities is motivated exclusively by self-defense and does not target any country or region.

3. Biosecurity

Biosecurity knows no borders. Its impact on the lives and health of humanity and the common interests of the world is of critical importance. At present, traditional and emerging biosecurity risks are compounded, and new biotechnologies face greater risks of misuse and abuse, creating a more complex international biosecurity situation.

China has earnestly implemented relevant international treaties and thoroughly engaged in global biosecurity governance. It firmly opposes the proliferation of biological weapons, their means of delivery, and all related technologies. It resolutely combats bioterrorism and actively promotes the peaceful uses of biotechnologies.

Taking the initiative to fulfill its treaty obligations and prevent proliferation in the biological field. China has included biosecurity in its national security strategy and enacted and enforced the Biosecurity Law of the People's Republic of China. It continues to modernize its governance system and capacity, and strengthen its biosecurity institutions and capacity building. China always fully and rigorously fulfills its international obligations, including those under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) [The full name is: the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.]. In the process of consistently improving national implementation of the Convention, it has established a mechanism involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other institutions, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs designated as the National Contact Point. China resolutely opposes the proliferation of bioweapons, their means of delivery, and all related technologies, and continues to reinforce export controls over dual-use biological items.

Actively leading the global biosecurity governance. China is firmly committed to the purposes and objectives of the BWC; it supports the strengthening and institutionalization of the Convention in all its aspects, and advocates the conclusion through negotiation of a legally binding protocol with an effective verification mechanism to reinforce the authority, effectiveness, and universality of the Convention. This would ensure that the BWC plays an important role in eliminating bioweapon threats, preventing bioweapon proliferation, and promoting the peaceful uses of biotechnologies.

To address global biosecurity challenges, China supports the establishment of a dedicated global biological arms control and biosecurity agency and advocates better coordination among relevant international organizations. It participates fully in activities under the UN Secretary-General's Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (UNSGM), nominates experts and laboratories to the UNSGM roster, and has hosted several laboratory exercises. China continues to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with or within organizations and mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, ASEAN, and the China-Central Asia mechanism to build a broad consensus on safeguarding global biosecurity.

Providing international biosecurity public goods. In July 2021, Chinese scientists, together with their international peers, developed Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of Conduct for Scientists, which has been endorsed by the InterAcademy Partnership and has played a guiding role in ensuring responsible biological research and preventing the misuse and abuse of biotechnologies.

China actively helps other developing countries to improve their public health systems and their professional expertise. It engages in practical bilateral and multilateral cooperation in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean in fields such as communicable disease prevention and control, health emergency response, inspection and quarantine, medical technology, biosafety laboratory management, and animal health and quarantine. Carrying on the great tradition of South-South cooperation, it has helped other developing countries to strengthen their biosecurity talent pools by hosting international seminars and workshops on biosafety laboratories management and techniques and the prevention and control of communicable diseases and animal epidemic diseases.

China promotes all-round international cooperation on combating Covid-19 and other communicable diseases and animal epidemic diseases. To this end, China has directed its strength to the global epidemic prevention and control effort by providing vaccines and anti-epidemic supplies, sharing solutions to epidemic prevention and control and to diagnosis and treatment, and sharing information on communicable diseases and animal epidemic diseases, including the complete genome sequence of the novel coronavirus.

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