China joins global treaty on regulating arms trade

China’s envoy to the United Nations on Monday affirmed the nation’s commitment to the Arms Trade Treaty, or ATT, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“The Chinese government attaches high importance to the problems caused by illicit transfer and abuse of conventional arms. China supports the purposes and goals of the treaty and agrees on taking necessary measures to regulate the international arms trade and combat illicit arms transfer,” said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN, at a virtual news conference after depositing the instrument of accession document on Monday.

“China always strictly regulates export of military articles with policies and management measures meeting, or in some areas even exceeding, ATT requirements,” the ambassador said, adding that it is worth pointing out that China allows arms exports only to sovereign states and not nonstate actors.

“This fully demonstrates its high sense of responsibility,” he added.

Zhang called on all parties to strictly regulate the export of military items, disallow exports to nonstate actors and to stop interfering in sovereign states’ internal affairs through arms exports.

The ambassador emphasized that accession to the ATT is “another important step in China’s active participation in global arms trade governance to safeguard international and regional peace and stability.

“It demonstrates China’s resolve and sincerity in maintaining the international arms control regime, supporting multilateralism and forging a community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.

“It will further enhance the treaty’s universality and contribute to global security governance and the international arms control process,” he added.

Zhang said that the world is now facing multiple challenges and that unilateralism has become the source of trouble.

A “certain country has quit multilateral arms control agreements and international treaties and organizations in succession (and) walked away from international commitments, launched acts of unilateralism and bullying. This has brought huge uncertainties to the global strategic balance and stability and seriously undermined the joint efforts of all countries to tackle global challenges,” he said.

“At this critical moment, major powers need to honor commitments, shoulder responsibilities and set an example by contributing to safeguarding the international order, the rule of law, the role of the UN and multilateralism,” he added.

The ATT was adopted by the UN General Assembly on April 2, 2013, and entered into force on Dec 24, 2014. With China’s accession, it now has 107 countries that have adopted it.

Depositing the instrument of accession marks the conclusion of the domestic legal procedures for China’s accession to the treaty. As per the provision of the ATT, the treaty will enter into force for China 90 days after the depositing of the instrument of accession.