Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

02 July 1998

TEXT: U.S.-CHINA JOINT STATEMENT SOUTH ASIA

(Reaffirms policies not to assist India, Pakistan)  (1010)
Beijing -- In a Joint Statement released June 27, Presidents Clinton
and Jiang reaffirmed their respective policies to prevent the export
of equipment, materials or technology that could in any way assist
programs in India or Pakistan for nuclear weapons or for ballistic
missiles capable of delivering such weapons.
They also pledged to strengthen their respective national export
control systems toward that end.
"Close coordination between the United States and China is essential
to building strong international support behind the goals to which we
are committed in response to nuclear testing by India and Pakistan,"
the statement says.
"We will stay closely in touch on this issue, and will work with other
members of the P-5 and the Security Council, with other Asian and
Pacific countries, and with the broader international community to
forestall further instability in South Asia, achieve a peaceful and
mutually acceptable resolution of differences between India and
Pakistan, and strengthen the global nonproliferation regime."
Following is the official White House text of the Joint Statement:
(begin text)
Joint Statement
On
South Asia
Introduction
Recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan, and the resulting increase
in tension between them, are a source of deep and lasting concern to
both of us. Our shared interests in a peaceful and stable South Asia
and in a strong global nonproliferation regime have been put at risk
by these tests, which we have joined in condemning. We have agreed to
continue to work closely together, within the P-5, the Security
Council and with others, to prevent an accelerating nuclear and
missile arms race in South Asia, strengthen international
nonproliferation efforts, and promote reconciliation and the peaceful
resolution of differences between India and Pakistan.
Preventing a Nuclear and Missile Race in South Asia
The P-5 Joint Communique of June 4, which was endorsed by UN Security
Council Resolution 1172, sets out clear and comprehensive objectives
and a plan for action to address the threat of South Asian nuclear and
missile arms race. We pledge our full support for the steps outlined
in the Joint Communique, and again call on India and Pakistan to stop
all further nuclear tests and adhere immediately and unconditionally
to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), to refrain from
weaponization or deployment of nuclear weapons and from the testing or
deployment of missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, and to
enter into firm commitments not to weaponize or deploy nuclear weapons
or missiles capable of delivering them.
Strengthening Global Nonproliferation Cooperation
The United States and China remain firmly committed to strong and
effective international cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation, with
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as its
cornerstone. We will continue to bolster global nuclear
nonproliferation efforts, and reiterate that our goal is adherence of
all countries, including India and Pakistan, to the NPT as it stands,
without any modification. States that do not adhere to the Treaty
cannot expect to be accorded the same benefits and international
standing as are accorded to NPT parties. Notwithstanding their recent
nuclear tests, India and Pakistan do not have the status of nuclear
weapons states in accordance with the NPT.
We reaffirm our determination to fulfill our commitments relating to
nuclear disarmament under Article VI of the NPT. To this end, both
countries have signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and do not
intend to resume nuclear testing.
We call for the prompt initiation and conclusion of negotiations in
the Conference on Disarmament, on the basis of the 1995 agreed
mandate, for a multilateral treaty banning the production of fissile
material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. We
urge India and Pakistan to participate, in a positive spirit, in such
negotiations with other states in the Conference on Disarmament with a
view to reaching early agreement.
We both actively support the Strengthened Safeguards System now being
implemented by the IAEA, and will promptly take steps to implement it
in our countries.
Reducing Tensions and Encouraging the Peaceful Resolution of
Differences between India and Pakistan.
We are committed to assist where possible India and Pakistan to
resolve peacefully the difficult and long-standing differences between
them, including the issue of Kashmir. We welcome the resumption of
dialogue between the two countries and encourage them to continue such
dialogue, and we stand ready to assist in the implementation of
confidence-building measures between them, and encourage the
consideration of additional measures of this type.
Responsibilities of the United States and China
The United States and China have long sought friendly relations with
both India and Pakistan. We reaffirm this goal and our hope that we
can jointly and individually contribute to the achievement of a
peaceful, prosperous, and secure South Asia. As P-5 members, and as
states with important relationships with the countries of the region,
we recognize our responsibility to contribute actively to the
maintenance of peace, stability and security in the region, and to do
all we can to address the root causes of tension.
We reaffirm that our respective policies are to prevent the export of
equipment, materials or technology that could in any way assist
programs in India or Pakistan for nuclear weapons or for ballistic
missiles capable of delivering such weapons, and that to this end, we
will strengthen our national export control systems.
Next Steps
Close coordination between the United States and China is essential to
building strong international support behind the goals to which we are
committed in response to nuclear testing by India and Pakistan. We
will stay closely in touch on this issue, and will work with other
members of the P-5 and the Security Council, with other Asian and
Pacific countries, and with the broader international community to
forestall further instability in South Asia, achieve a peaceful and
mutually acceptable resolution of differences between India and
Pakistan, and strengthen the global nonproliferation regime.
(end text)