On September 16, Ambassador Wang Qun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations in Vienna, spoke at the September Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, initially expressing China's solemn position on the announcement by the United States and the United Kingdom to assist Australia in the development of nuclear-powered submarine programs, and pointing out that the move by the United States and Britain is a naked act of nuclear proliferation.
Wang Qun said that preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology is the purpose of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the core obligation of States parties to fulfill the Treaty. The United States and the United Kingdom, as parties to the above-mentioned treaties and nuclear-weapon States, have openly assisted Australia, a non-nuclear-weapon State, in building nuclear-powered submarines, which will obviously lead to the proliferation of nuclear materials and technology. This is not only contrary to the purposes and core obligations of the NPT, but also undermines the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and efforts with the NPT at its core. China firmly upholds the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and is gravely concerned about this development. At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as an international organization that fulfills the NPT's nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards obligations, also has the responsibility and obligation to publicly express its solemn position on the acts of the United States, Britain, and Australia that violate the obligations of the NPT.
Wang Qun stressed that the United States and Britain, as nuclear-weapon states, have openly supported the development of military nuclear technology by non-nuclear-weapon states such as Australia, which is a naked act of nuclear proliferation. Such acts of nuclear proliferation will have a serious negative impact on the settlement of hotspot issues such as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Iranian nuclear issue. At present, the Board of Governors and the General Assembly are discussing the issue of the DPRK and the Iranian nuclear issue, and member states and relevant international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, must express a solemn attitude towards the cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia in the development of nuclear submarines, so as to promote the effective and comprehensive compliance of all countries with international nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
Wang Qun pointed out that the export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology from the United States and Britain to Australia once again proves that they are adopting "double standards" on the issue of nuclear exports, and use this as a tool for geopolitical games. This is extremely irresponsible. At the same time, As a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the NPT and a party to the South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, Australia has introduced nuclear submarine technology of strategic military value, and the international community, including neighboring countries, has reason to question Australia's sincerity in abiding by its nuclear non-proliferation commitments. This act by the United States, Britain, and Australia has seriously undermined regional peace and stability, intensified the arms race, and endangered international peace and security.
In conclusion, Wang Qun stressed that China will pay close attention to the developments and reserve the right to react further. We also call on the international community to act together to put an end to this dangerous practice.