Chinese representative: the United States and the United Kingdom assisting Australia in developing nuclear-powered submarines is a naked nuclear proliferation act

　　Chinese representative: the United States and the United Kingdom assisting Australia in developing nuclear-powered submarines is a naked nuclear proliferation act

　　Xinhua News Agency, Vienna, September 16th (Reporter Yu Tao and Fu Yiming) On September 16, Wang Qun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations in Vienna, delivered a speech at the September Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the announcement by the United States and the United Kingdom to assist Australia in developing nuclear-powered submarines. The project initially showed China’s solemn position, pointing out that the US and Britain’s move was a naked nuclear proliferation act.

　　Wang Qun said that preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology is the purpose of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and it is also the core obligation of the states parties to fulfill the treaty.

As the parties to the above-mentioned treaties and nuclear-weapon states, the United States and Britain openly helped Australia, a non-nuclear-weapon state, build nuclear-powered submarines, which will obviously cause the proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies.

This not only goes against the purpose and core obligations of the NPT, but also undermines the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism and efforts with NPT as the core.

China firmly safeguards the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and is seriously concerned about this development.

At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as an international organization that fulfills NPT nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards obligations, also has the responsibility and obligation to publicly state its solemn stand against actions by the United States, Britain, and Australia that violate NPT obligations.

　　Wang Qun emphasized that the United States and Britain, as nuclear-weapon states, openly support non-nuclear-weapon states like Australia in developing military nuclear technology. This is a naked act of nuclear proliferation.

This kind of nuclear proliferation will have a serious negative impact on the resolution of hot issues such as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Iranian nuclear issue.

Currently, the IAEA’s Board of Directors and the General Assembly are discussing the North Korean nuclear and Iranian nuclear issues. All member states and relevant international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, must show a stern attitude on the joint development of nuclear submarines by the United States, Britain, and Australia, so as to promote all The country fully and effectively abides by international nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

　　Wang Qun pointed out that the export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology by the United States and Britain to Australia once again proves that they adopt a "double standard" on the issue of nuclear export and use this as a tool of geopolitical game.

This is extremely irresponsible.

At the same time, Australia, as a non-nuclear-weapon signatory to the NPT and a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty, has introduced nuclear submarine technology with strategic military value. The international community, including neighboring countries, has reason to question Australia’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. Sincerity.

This act of the United States, Britain, and Australia has severely damaged regional peace and stability, intensified the arms race, and endangered international peace and security.

　　Finally, Wang Qun emphasized that China will pay close attention to the development of the situation and reserve the right to react further. We also call on the international community to act together to stop this dangerous act.