Beijing urges Tokyo to stop delaying disposal of Japan’s abandoned chemical weapons in China

CCTV: The fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) will be held today in Hague, Netherlands. What’s China’s expectation for the conference? Wang Wenbin: The conference evaluates the CWC’s implementation status and sets out priorities for the upcoming five years. It is of great significance for enhancing global security governance and safeguarding international peace and security. In recent years, the CWC faces severe challenges. The destruction of Japan’s abandoned chemical weapons (ACWs) in China has been delayed for multiple times, which becomes the most realistic challenge to realizing a world free of chemical weapons. Out of selfish political interests, some countries used the hotspot issue of chemical weapons to engage in political manipulation, severely disrupted the political settlement of certain issues and plunged the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into political confrontation. Certain countries abuse export control and obstruct the peaceful use of science and technology in the chemical field, causing serious concern from developing countries. China calls on States Parties to face up to problems and challenges, bolster unity and cooperation and jointly safeguard the authority of the CWC. To this end, efforts should be made in three aspects. First, to realize the common goal of building a world free of chemical weapons, we should urge Japan to earnestly fulfill its obligation, fully and faithfully implement the new destruction plan in its entirety and make every effort to accelerate the disposal process of ACWs in China. We should also maintain and enhance monitoring and verification on Japan. Second, we should take stock of the lessons learned on issues such as chemical weapons in Syria, turn the tide on political manipulation and create conditions for settling hotspot issues on chemical weapons and upholding regional and international peace and stability. Third, we should focus on long-term concerns of developing countries, further prioritize the peaceful use of science and technology in the chemical field and formulate effective action plans. As an original State Party to the CWC and the second largest contributor to the OPCW, China always faithfully fulfills its international obligations and is committed to upholding the authority of the CWC. China will continue to follow the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, practice true multilateralism, deeply involve itself in the CWC review process and work with all parties for positive outcomes of the conference through consensus. __________________ ShanghaiEye focuses on producing top-quality contents. Nobody knows SHANGHAI better than us. Please subscribe to us ☻☻☻ __________________ For more stories, please click ■ What’s up today in Shanghai, the most updated news of the city ■ Amazing Shanghai, exploring the unknown corners of the city, learning the people, food and stories behind them ■ What Chinese people’s lives are like during the post COVID-19 period ■ Views of foreign scholars on China and its affairs ■ Foreign faces in Shanghai, people living in this city sharing their true feelings ■ Mini-docs showing why China is the country it is today __________________ ☎Leave us messages if you have any suggestions or questions! Thank you!