China and the Arms Trade Treaty: Prospects and challenges
On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to adopt the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by a majority vote of 155 to 3. China was among the 22 states that abstained on the vote, with the failure to achieve consensus at the UN and the move to a majority vote to adopt the treaty cited as the main reason for China's position. Even though China did not cast a positive vote in the end, its position towards the ATT and its content has shifted significantly over the span of the negotiations.
This report examines the shifts in China’s position in the years leading up to the final UN vote; discusses the procedural, diplomatic, institutional and security factors that could influence China’s future decisions towards the ATT; and outlines three key issues on which further debate is needed. These are: the challenge of incorporating human rights and humanitarian provisions into Chinese law and practice; international disagreement as to what constitutes an ‘illicit’ transfer; and the different interests in, and pressures on, Chinese involvement in the arms trade.
Read more about our work on the Arms Trade Treaty here.
Read more about our China programme here.
中国与《武器贸易条约》：希望和挑战
内容简介
2013年4月2日，联合国大会以155票赞成、3票反对的多数票通过《武器贸易条约》。22个国家在投票中投了弃权票，中国就是其中之一。对于弃权的立场，中方随后的解释是中方将支持协商一致达成、而非以多数票通过的条约。尽管中国最终未对条约投赞成票，但中国对条约及其中的具体条款所持立场在整个谈判期间发生了巨大转变。
本文分析了中国近年来对《武器贸易条约》所持立场的转变过程，讨论了可能影响中国未来对条约所持态度的程序、外交、制度和安全方面的因素，指出还需讨论的三个重要议题，即：将人权和人道主义法律条款纳入中国法律和实践的挑战；国际上对“非法”转让构成要素的争论；以及中国在武器贸易中的利益以及面临的压力。
“The Chinese government made a series of compromises during the ATT negotiations, demonstrating its willingness to shift its position.”
Anna Stavrianakis and He Yun
