China Position Paper

The People’s Republic of China holds firmly to the belief that the illicit arms trade is devastating human lives and international policy needs to address the ills of the illicit arms trade. “The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stated that China’s arms exports are based on three principles: ‘Strengthening the defensive capabilities of the importers, not harming world or regional peace, security and stability, and not interfering in other states’ internal affairs’”(Columbia). The greatest concerns of the Chinese people are the prevention of illicit transfers and positive steps towards national controls of conventional arms and small arms and light weapons. Responsible production of small arms much be reached in any UN Convention. Controls over stockpiles by national reporting must be conducted.

In regards to conventional arms treaties that China is a signatory to, they include the  Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, and the Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. 

While the regulation of small arms and light weapons is of the utmost importance and urgency, the economic and technological position of each state should be considered in the application of the Latin American Arms Trade Treaty. 

The issue of illicit arms trade in Latin America is the stage in which we further the achievements of illicit arms trade disarmament. Just four countries—Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela—account for roughly one-fifth of all gun-related deaths around the planet each year. A recent study also reveals that 47 of the world’s 50 most murderous cities are in Latin America and the Caribbean (two are in the United States and one is in South Africa). The closer a country’s border is to the United States, the greater the influx of legal and illegal weaponry will be. The illegal weapons come mainly through fraudulent purchases from federally licensed dealers in the United States.

In order for nations to develop, they must work towards disarmament. Developed nations have a role in aiding this disarmament through key steps: technology transfers, infrastructure buildup, and personnel training in the area of the illicit arms transfers. 

China “welcomes the positive progress on the implementation of relevant international instruments as the Firearms Protocol, the UN POA on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the International Tracing Instrument. China believes that complete elimination of the adverse consequences induced by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons remains an arduous task and calls for further joint efforts by the international society” (Position paper).

The People’s Republic of China is committed to the continuing adherence to other arms treaties in the strengthening of our international society. In the areas that international society is limited, bilateral and national measures must take up the issue of illicit arms control. 

Works Cited

Al Saud, Latifa A. “China’s Arms Sales Philosophy in the Arab World.” JIA SIPA, 3 Dec. 2018, jia.sipa.columbia.edu/online-articles/chinas-arms-sales-philosophy-arab- world.

Position Paper Submitted by Chinese Delegation at the Sixth Biennial Meeting of States to Consider Implementation of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspect. 6 June 2016, s3.amazonaws.com/unoda-web/wp-content/uploads/ 2016/04/2016-June-Chinas-Position-Paper-at-the-BMS6-on-the-UNPOA.pdf.

“Revisiting the World’s Most Violent Cities.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, 30 Mar. 2016, www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2016/03/30/ revisiting-the-worlds-most-violent-cities.