Xinhua: Arms Control Official Decries U.S. Senate Rejection of CTBT

[Dao Van <daotb@yahoo.com>]

Arms Control Official Decries U.S.  Senate Rejection of CTBT

BEIJING, November 25 (Xinhua)-- China is gravely disappointed with the
U.S.  Senate's rejection of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT), said Sha Zukang, head of the arms control department of the
Chinese Foreign Ministry.  In an interview with Xinhua, Sha said that
the rejection is so bad which will have a far-reaching negative impact. 
First, the Senate's denial of the treaty blocks the CTBT from coming
into effect, Sha said.  Without the approval of the United States, the
largest and the most advanced nuclear arsenal with the heaviest record
of nuclear testing in history among the world's 44 countries with
nuclear capacities, the CTBT has no hope of ever coming into effect, he
said, branding the act as a blow to the international will to
permanently ban nuclear testing. 
"It seems as if the U.S. was negotiating the treaty
for the sake of someone else," by eagerly promoting it and then later
dismissing it, Sha said. 
"It's the typical practice of the U.S.: sign the
treaty first and then have reservations on key decisions, just as it did
with the convention on the prohibition of the development, production,
stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction," he said.
Such deeds will leave psychological and political scars on nations
concerned, and threaten ongoing and future CTBT negotiations, he noted. 
"It needs to be pointed out that superpower though
it may be, the U.S.  is not supposed to possess super rights.  All
nations are equal," Sha said.  The two reasons specified by the U.S. 
Senate for voting down the CTBT are groundless, he pointed out.  Sha
dismissed the Senate's claim that the treaty lacks a strict and
substantial watchdog mechanism, calling it an empty excuse that can not
ensure all parties involved in the negotiations for the CTBT to strictly
implement it.  On the contrary, he argued, the CTBT contains a very
rigid review procedure and measures. 
"I hope the gentlemen of the Senate drew their
conclusions after serious study of the text itself," he said.  The
Senate's other reason was that the prohibition of nuclear testing
undermines the safety and dependability of its arsenal and risks U.S. 
security and interests.  Sha said this is "a dangerous signal that the
U.S.  will continue nuclear tests."
"Although the U.S. government makes the commitment
to continue to abide by the CTBT, the stance of the Senate raises doubts
about its credibility," Sha said.  "The fact that a country with the
highest number of nuclear tests in history would not stop testing gives
other countries reason to follow suit." The CTBT, which would prohibit
all nuclear-capable countries from developing nuclear weapons in
quality, is for the security interests of the international community
including the United States, and is also a crucial step toward
comprehensively banning and completely eliminating nuclear weapons, Sha
concluded. 
"The U.S. Senate's rejection of the CTBT is a
serious obstacle

to the goal, obstructs the arms control process, and negatively affects
international nuclear non-proliferation efforts," Sha said.  Regarding
China's attitude toward the CTBT, Sha noted that China has been actively
engaged in the negotiations for CTBT, and is among the first countries
to sign the treaty.  The treaty is currently awaiting ratification by
the National People's Congress (NPC), Sha said, adding that the U.S. 
Senate's rejection of CTBT would not affect China's stance. 

"China's determination to get CTBT ratified remains
unmoved," he said. 
"China solemnly vows not to carry out any nuclear
tests before ratifying the CTBT, and to honor all obligations under it
after its ratification," Sha stated.  The Chinese government has pledged
to push the ratification process forward, but it is up to the NPC to
decide whether or not and when to ratify the treaty, Sha explained. 
"The NPC will make its decision after careful study
of the text and a thorough deliberation of the current international
security situations," he added.  However, Sha pointed out, paragraph II,
article IX of the treaty, which states that "each State Party shall, in
exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from
this Treaty, if it decides that extraordinary events related to the
subject matter of this Treaty have jeopardized its supreme interests,"
applies to all state parties.  Enditem






__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?  Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one
place.  Yahoo!  Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com