Keeping the Peace
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E-mail Beijing Review, September 3, 2012
What's your take on the prospect of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula?
There is still a long way to go. The key point of the North Korean nuclear issue is that Washington and Pyongyang severely lack strategic mutual trust. Pyongyang has been in fear of the strong threat from Washington's denouncing Pyongyang as an "axis of evil" power and planning to topple it. North Korea takes this as a reason for its nuclear weapon program. Therefore, only if mutual trust is built between the two sides, will North Korea swallow all its doubts and soften its stance on the issue.
![Delegates attend a preparatory session for the 2015 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference in Vienna on April 30 [XU LIANG]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20120903/000cf1bdd03f11ae64f830.JPG "Delegates attend a preparatory session for the 2015 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference in Vienna on April 30 [XU LIANG]") |
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Delegates attend a preparatory session for the 2015 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference in Vienna on April 30 [XU LIANG] |
It is not true that China can exert a special influence on North Korea. What China can do is to bring parties concerned together for talks. The solution lies in North Korea and the United States.
The six-party talks, which were initiated in August 2003, have played an important role in preventing the deterioration of the North Korean nuclear issue and severe conflicts on the Korean Peninsula.
Now, the most urgent problem is to resume the six-party talks, which were suspended prematurely in 2009. A direct dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington could be another important approach to resolving the issue.
What is the weapon export control system like in China? What policies and measures have China adopted to ensure weapons won't be sold to conflict-ridden areas?
All military exports in China should go through stringent examination and approval by China's Central Government. Authorized by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, the State Administrative Committee on Military Products Trade (SACMPT) is in charge of China's military exports while its executive body, the State Bureau of Military Products Trade, implements the supervision and management of military exports.
China has adopted a prudent and responsible attitude toward the export of military products. It adheres to three principles in arms exports—contributing to recipient countries' legitimate defense capability, not harming the peace and stability of regions concerned and the world, and not interfering in the internal affairs of recipient countries.
Military export licenses are authorized by SACMPT. Organizations without authorization are not allowed to export military products. Individuals are prohibited to engage in military export. The Chinese Government has adopted rigorous measures for military export control, and has kept making improvements in light of the changing situation.
What should the Chinese Government do to improve China's current arms control and disarmament system?
Arms control and disarmament are important approaches to achieving the UN objective of safeguarding world peace.
After years of practice, China has established fruitful diplomatic coordination mechanisms on international arms control with the involvement of many sectors including foreign affairs, national defense, international trade, military industries as well as research institutes. At present, there are lots of experts and researchers working in the field.
In the future, related departments should further strengthen their efforts, deepen coordination and train more competent professionals for arms control research.
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