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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
October 4, 1994
REMARKS BY
SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER
AND
CHINESE VICE PREMIER & FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN
Following The Signing Of
Joint US-China Statement On Missile Proliferation
and
Joint US-China Statement On Stopping Production
Of Fissile Materials For Nuclear Weapons
Department of State
Washington, D.C.
October 4, 1994
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Good afternoon. Vice Premier and Foreign
Minister Qian Qichen's trip is closing on a very positive note.
I'm pleased to announce today that the United States and China have
reached important agreements to help curb the proliferation of
missiles and the production of fissile material for nuclear
weapons. Stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction is a
strategic priority for President Clinton's Administration. Today's
agreements are another advance toward achieving that objective.
They also represent a vital element of our relationship with China,
a nuclear power and a permanent member of the U.N. Security
Council.
First, on the question of missile nonproliferation, the United
States and China have agreed to a step-by-step approach to resolve
their differences on the export of missiles under the Missile
Technology Control Regime, MTCR. As a first step, the United
States will move to lift the sanctions it imposed against China in
August of 1993, for the transfer of missile parts to Pakistan.
Once the sanctions are lifted, China has agreed not to export
ground-to-ground missiles covered by the MTCR Agreement.
In effect, this communique today goes beyond the MTCR requirements.
It represents a global and verifiable ban on Chinese exports of
missiles capable of the range of at least 300 kilometers and a
payload of at least 500 kilograms. This is a very important step
forward and I urge you not to let the complexity of it blind you to
the achievement that's resulted here today.
This agreement also resolves a previous difference of opinion
between the United States and China on the interpretation of MTCR.
Under the terms of this agreement, China has now accepted the MTCR
definition of a missile's inherent capability. That means that any
missile that has the inherent capability to be adapted to meet the
MTCR thresholds through modification is also within the control of
the regime. Both of our countries have reaffirmed our respective
commitments to the MTCR guidelines and its parameters. As a second
step in this connection, the United States and China have also
agreed to hold further in-depth discussions on MTCR, including
discussions of China's possible MTCR membership in the near future.
Now, on a second subject, that is fissile material production, the
United States and China have agreed to work together to promote a
global and verifiable ban on the production of fissile materials
for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. This
agreement will enable us to advance our shared goal of stopping the
production of nuclear weapons materials in states that are on the
threshold of nuclear weapons development. It also strengthens our
larger shared commitment to halt the proliferation of nuclear
weapons.
As influential members of the international community, the United
States and China have a special obligation to cooperate in
promoting peace and security. These two agreements are good
examples of the benefits that cooperation can bring, and I'm
gratified that we were able to reach them. I also want to thank
the Vice Premier and Foreign Minister for his visit here today. I
think the talks that have taken place in connection with human
rights as well as the talks we've had on nonproliferation are a
reflection of a good degree of progress in our relationship; and
I'm grateful to you, Mr. Minister, for your important leadership
role in these achievements. Thank you very much.
VICE PREMIER & FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN: (Through Interpreter) Just
now I signed with Secretary Christopher two important agreements:
one on nonproliferation, the other on the cut-off of fissile
material production.
On the first subject, that is nuclear nonproliferation, it is our
consistent position that China does not engage in the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, including the missiles outside the
MTCR. In 1991, China and the United States had discussions on this
issue. However, due to the sanctions applied against China by the
United States, this issue was not resolved at that time. In March
1992, after the United States lifted its sanctions against China,
China made that commitment. Now we are reaffirming our commitment
made in March 1992.
Later, in August 1993, the United States reimposed sanctions
against China, and our two countries had a long discussion on this
issue. Today we have reached agreement on this issue; that is,
after the lifting of the sanctions imposed on China by the United
States in August 1993, China reaffirms its commitment to MTCR
Guidelines and parameters. So, after long-term discussions between
our two sides, our two sides have now resolved this issue. We are
very pleased about this.
On the second issue, that is the stopping of the production of
fissile materials, both China and the United States are nuclear
countries, even though the nuclear arsenal of the United States is
much bigger than that of China. Still, China is ready to work with
the rest of the international community to promote the earliest
achievement of a convention on the stopping of fissile materials
among the nuclear countries. We hope to see an early and smooth
completion of this process.
The conclusion of these two agreements between our two countries
will contribute to the development of Sino-American relations. It
will also play a positive role in promoting the global
nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the stopping of
the production of fissile materials. Therefore, it will also
contribute to world peace and stability.
I wish to thank Secretary Christopher for the good arrangements for
my visit. We have had useful discussions, and I wish to express
our thanks for the warm reception accorded to us by our host.
Thank you. (Applause)
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, does this now mean that the United States
will license the remaining satellites to be launched on Chinese
rockets?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: No, that's no part of the commitment here.
The commitment is only to lift the Category II sanctions which were
imposed in 1993 against China.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can you tell us whether this agreement
goes beyond the pledge that China made to Secretary of State Baker
in November of 1991?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Well, it certainly goes beyond the MTCR
requirements, which I believe was the emit of that pledge. To
simplify it as well as one can and, as I say, there are some
complexities about this that are inherent. But this is a global
and verifiable ban on Chinese exports of all missiles within the
parameters, that is within the 300 kilometer range, at least 300
kilometers and a payload of at least 500 kilograms.
The fact that it's a global and verifiable ban, not simply a
presumption, goes beyond MTCR and is a very important step forward.
We have people here who are experts on the MTCR but MTCR, as you
know, is basically a very strong presumption but it is not an
automatic outlawing. The agreement reached today is a global and
verifiable ban, and that's a very important difference.
QUESTION: The MTCR covers missile parts or components as well.
Does this?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Yes, this does as well. Both sides have
reaffirmed their commitment to the MTCR guidelines and its
parameters on equipment as well.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, when do think it will be the appropriate
time for lifting all sanctions imposed on China?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: That's a completely different subject. As
the relationships mature, as we watch over time in various aspects
of the development of our relationships, I think those issues will
arise and be clarified.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, how is this agreement verifiable?
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: We have the means to determine whether or
not there will be sales of that character. I have little question
that that can be done. I also think that the Chinese commitment in
this regard is one that's not ambiguous. Thank you very much.
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