Madam Chair，

Outer space is facing severe challenges. Certain country declares outer space as a war-fighting domain, accelerates the build-up of their space military capabilities, forges military alliance in outer space, thus increasing the risk of weaponization of and an arms race in outer space. Such trend severely undermines global strategic balance and stability, and poses serious challenges to the peaceful use of outer space. Some countries have long obstructed the negotiation of a legally-binding instrument, increasing security deficit in outer space,  and making the governance in this field even more difficult.

China has consistently advocated the peaceful use of outer space, and rejected the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space. China has submitted and actively advocated the Draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects (PPWT). China supports the UN's role as the primary channel of outer space governance, and calls for the negotiation of an international legally-binding instrument on outer space arms control as a fundamental solution to preventing the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space. In this regard, we welcome that the Pact for the Future decides to “advance further measures and appropriate international negotiations to prevent an arms race in outer space in all its aspects”.

Two months ago, the PAROS GGE concluded a consensual report on substantial elements of a legally-binding instrument on PAROS, including the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space. This is the first such report agreed upon under the framework of UN in many years, signaling that PAROS is still an international consensus and the key to achieve overall security and strategic stability in outer space. Building upon such consensus, the international community should take actions as soon as possible to maintain security and peace in outer space.

Madam Chair,

China will uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits, work with all countries to promote the governance on outer space security, in order to ensure security in outer space and create a better future for all mankind.  In this regard, China would like to propose the following points:

Firstly, uphold the view that “space war cannot be won and must never be fought”. The outer space is global commons. It should become a new frontier of international win-win cooperation, in stead of a new battle field of competition and confrontation. Like nuclear war, a space war cannot be won and must never be fought. Countries should commit to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and uphold the international consensus of preventing the extension of armed conflicts into outer space, in order to ensure the nature of peaceful use of outer space, and to protect the rights of the peaceful exploration of outer space of all countries.

Secondly, commence the negotiation on a new international legally-binding instrument as soon as possible. To conclude a legally-binding instrument on PAROS through negotiation is the fundamental way to achieve security in outer space. History and practice have proven that general and complete disarmament could only be achieved through legally-binding instruments. Since 1981, the UNGA has adopted, by an overwhelming majority, a series of resolutions to request the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate a legally-binding instrument on PAROS. This year, the PAROS GGE report identifies elements such as principles, definitions, verification, obligations to be considered in the future negotiation of a legally-binding instrument. China proposes to start the negotiation in the CD as soon as possible, building upon the aforementioned efforts.

Thirdly, build more consensus on the basis of existing international law. The UN Charter and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty laid the foundation for the international space law system, and should serve as the primary basis of advancing governance on outer space security. The efforts under the UN framework should focus on the negotiation of a legally-binding instrument on outer space arms control, bridge the gap on governance approaches, and abide by the working method of the UNGA. In terms of preventing weaponization of outer space, China opposes any attempt of politicization. Not only can nuclear weapons and other WMDs be deployed in the outer space, but other weapons cannot be deployed in outer space either. We note that member states are still divided on how to promote the work of the two OEWGs, respectively on “Responsible Behavior in Outer Space” and PAROS. Egypt, Brazil and other member states have made tremendous efforts to bridge the differences. We hope the relevant process could stick to the main goal of negotiating a legally-binding instrument, and contribute further substantive recommendations for preventing an arms race and maintaining peace in outer space.

Fourthly, responding to new challenges to outer space security. Commercial space companies have grown rapidly and certain companies are involved in military domain even in armed conflicts by supporting military operations of other countries under the banner of “civilian use”, which adds new complexity and uncertainties to outer space security. The international community should attach great importance to this trend. Governments should fulfill their due obligations, study the problems triggered by this trend, and find feasible solutions through extensive consultations, so as to maintain peace and tranquility in outer space to the greatest extent possible.

Thank you, Chair.