China is opposed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. As a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention, China fulfills its obligations under the above international legal instruments in letter and spirit.

China has no intention to assist, in any way, any country in the development of ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons (i.e., missiles capable of delivering a payload ofat least 500 kilograms to a distance of at least 300 kilometers.)

China will, based on its own missile non-proliferation policy and export control practices, further improve and reinforce its export control system, including by publishing a comprehensive export control list of missile-related items including dual use items.

Logically speaking, this control list will include equipment, materials and technology that can be directly used in missiles, as well as missile-related dual use items.

In establishing its control list, China will take into account the relevant practices of other countries in terms of scope and detail with a view to strengthening the effectiveness of its control system.

As part and parcel of its efforts in enforcing missile-related export controls in accordance with this control list, the Chinese government will naturally require all Chinese entities and individuals to obtain a government license for the export of items on this list.

In making export licensing determinations for items on the list, the Chinese government will take into consideration the proposed end-use and end-user for the item and the risk that the item will be diverted to programs for the development of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

In the case of transfers to countries that are developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, China will exercise special scrutiny and caution, even for items not specifically contained on the control list, so as to prevent significant contributions to those countries' development of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

The Chinese government will work to publish the above missile-related export control list and related regulations at an early date. Pending that, China will continue to enforce its existing measures so as to ensure that the policy of not assisting, in any way, countries in the development of ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons will be implemented.

China stands ready to continue to cooperate and hold consultations with the U.S. and other countries on the issue of non-proliferation with a view to strengthening their respective export control systems for missile-related equipment and technology.

(People's Daily 11/22/2000)