HUAZHU ZHANG
China Atomic Energy Authority, Beijing, China
Email: ydliu@caea.gov.cn
Ever since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, non-conventional security issues represented by transnational and transregional terrorist activities have been increasing. Some international terrorists or terrorist organizations turned to nuclear material and devices and began to seek access to nuclear explosive devices or radiological dispersal devices to attack the public. They tried to cause public panic or damage to the international community through sabotaging nuclear facilities and attacking nuclear material transport vehicles, which could bring serious nuclear destruction or radiological jeopardy. Nuclear terrorist activities have become one of the most worrisome forms of terrorism that the international community is facing. At present, when nuclear energy is widely used, the lack of effective ways to curb nuclear terrorist activities will not only damage the healthy development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy but also put the peace and security of the international community at formidable risk.
Fortunately, the international community has attached great attention to international nuclear terrorist activities and adopted preventive measures. The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolutions 1373 and 1540, which called upon all States to take effective measures through strengthened legislation and to cooperate in preventing the illicit trafficking of nuclear weapons and related material. In the multilateral nuclear security arena, the IAEA has played an active role in strengthening international efforts in nuclear security and in improving the international non-proliferation regime through making work plans for the prevention of nuclear terrorism, initiating the amendment of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, urging Member States to implement the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and establishing the Nuclear Security Fund to help developing countries improve their nuclear security capabilities. The IAEA is now cooperating with related international organizations in inviting ministers and high level officers to gather in London to share views on the present situation of global nuclear security and its future
prospects and to discuss possible cooperation. I am convinced that this conference will have a positive influence on the strengthening of the international nuclear security regime, and the preventing and curbing of nuclear terrorist activities.
China has always stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, has resolutely opposed the proliferation of such weapons and has been against the theft and illegal transfer of nuclear material. China took a highly responsible attitude and actively participated in activities aimed at strengthening international non-proliferation efforts and nuclear security capabilities. Regulations and supervision systems on sensitive items and technologies have been set up in compliance with international regulations and practice.
As an approach to prevent the theft, damage to, loss, and illicit transfer and use of nuclear material, China issued the Regulations on the Control of Nuclear Materials and the guidance on their implementation in the 1980s, which made specific provisions on the licensing system, physical protection requirements, and accountancy and control of nuclear material. Based on them, the Accountancy and Control System for Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Material Security System were also set up. Pertinent departments of the Chinese Government issued in recent years the Rules on Inspection of Nuclear Materials Control, Rules on Physical Protection for International Nuclear Materials Transport, Regulations on Security of Nuclear Power Plants, Guide on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, and other technological documents, which place the control and physical protection of nuclear material on to an institutional and standard track.
The competent authorities in China have strengthened support for research and development and personnel training for physical protection technology. While ensuring compliance with the physical protection standards at the international level of such newly established nuclear facilities as large capacity nuclear power plants, old facilities with lower protection technology and standards have also been upgraded.
An interdepartment nuclear emergency coordination mechanism has been established by the Chinese Government and countermeasures are in place to respond to nuclear terrorist activities and other emergencies. Nuclear emergency preparation and practices in nuclear facilities have been reinforced and studies on antinuclear-terrorism have been actively carried out.
In order to exercise strict control on nuclear material, dual use items and related technologies, and to eliminate the threat of proliferation in export, the Chinese Government issued the Regulations on the Control of Nuclear Export and the Regulations on the Control of Nuclear Dual Use Items and Related
Technologies Export in 1997 and 1998, respectively, to ensure strict licensing management of the export of nuclear material and dual use items. The coding of items on the control list for the customs service is in process, which will facilitate effective control of the export of sensitive items.
As the application of nuclear technology increases, radioactive sources are increasingly used in agriculture, industry and medicine. The long life cycle, large quantity and broad distribution of such sources cause much difficulty in management. Related laws, regulations and management mechanisms will be established by the State to improve the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of radioactive source management. The competent authorities can then ensure strict management of radioactive sources throughout manufacturing, transport, usage and recycling to reduce the risk of loss or theft to the minimum.
The Chinese Government issued the Regulations on Radioactive Protection for Radiological Isotopes and Radiation Emitting Facilities, which provide for registration and licensing management for radioactive sources. The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Radioactive Pollution Prevention and Control was issued in June 2003. The issuance of department level regulations such as Rules on Radioactive Sources Coding and Requirements on Radioactive Sources Import and Export Licensing paved the way for strengthened management of radioactive sources. Relevant departments made a joint special nationwide effort to check up on radioactive sources in May 2004 in order to further improve the management mechanism and assess the situation. A comprehensive examination was made of the use and management of radioactive sources, and a number of orphan radioactive sources were gathered. On the basis of the current 25 urban radioactive waste depositories, an overall plan for urban depositories in the whole country is being made to facilitate the storage of radioactive sources. The Chinese customs service is developing the necessary technology and tools of management to better supervise the import and export of radioactive sources.
With years of unswerving efforts, China has not only formulated the regulations and measures necessary for performing non-proliferation obligations and nuclear security duties, but has also established a control and supervision system with the participation of the government departments of nuclear energy, environmental protection, commerce, public security and customs. China’s efforts at non-proliferation and nuclear security are improving steadily.
While improving continuously its domestic regulatory systems, China attaches great importance to international cooperation and exchange in nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security, and actively supports the international community in strengthening efforts in the two fields.
China has signed all of the international treaties and conventions pertinent to nuclear non-proliferation, including the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and has acceded to international non-proliferation regimes, including the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between China and the Agency came into effect in March 2002 and China performed the duty of notification accordingly. With effective domestic supervision and coordination, China has exchanged information timely with the IAEA and other countries.
China has also given positive support to and participated in the non-proliferation activities of the United Nations and the IAEA such as the amendment of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, and played a constructive role in the United Nations High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.
In terms of bilateral cooperation, China and the United States of America have held regular talks focusing on nuclear non-proliferation policies and have made a wide exchange of related technologies and detailed measures.
The two sides have decided to hold a technology demonstration of physical protection of nuclear material in October this year in China. China has maintained regular talks with Canada and Japan concerning nuclear export control and safeguards. The Chinese Government has cooperated with relevant countries in container security and nuclear material inspection to ensure the security of China’s ports.
The China Atomic Energy Authority set up this year a special fund purely for international cooperation in nuclear non-proliferation, to provide reliable resources for China to play a bigger role in international non-proliferation activities and to fulfil its obligations.
The fundamental objective of strengthening international nuclear security and non-proliferation is to keep global, regional and national peace and security, and to promote sustainable social and economic development, which are in the common interest of the international community and the responsibility of all nations. To achieve this goal, every nation should not only perform its due obligations in this regard but also actively participate in building international non-proliferation and nuclear security regimes, make joint efforts in combating nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorist activities in all forms, and prevent any terrorist action that may jeopardize the health and safety of people.
Meanwhile, we should also be aware that the establishment and improvement of international non-proliferation and nuclear security regimes is a progressive process, and that policies and measures should be formulated on
the basis of wide participation of nations and democratic decision making. Only in this way can they obtain understanding and support from most members of the international community, and can justice, rationality and impartiality be guaranteed.
Faced with a complicated and changeable international security situation, China, as a member of the international community, will, as always, participate in the various efforts of the international community in strengthening nuclear security, non-proliferation and antinuclear-terrorist activities, and make due contribution to achieving lasting peace and the common prosperity of the international community.