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NUCLEAR TESTING MORATORIA
For the unclassified Compliance Report, no new adherence issues related to nuclear testing moratoria were identified. Due to the lack of transparency with regard to their respective nuclear testing activities and previously identified adherence issues, the United States remains concerned about the PRC’s and Russia’s adherence to their respective moratoria. See previous years’ reports for adherence history and background information.
The United States will continue to engage with the PRC and Russia, as appropriate, in order to address these continued concerns. The United States emphasized the need for increased nuclear weapons-related transparency in a November 6, 2023, meeting on arms control and nonproliferation with PRC counterparts.
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COUNTRY ASSESSMENTS
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC)
FINDING
The PRC continued to engage in biological activities with potential BW applications, including possible development of toxins for military purposes, which raise concerns regarding its compliance with Article I of the BWC.
In addition, the United States does not have sufficient information to determine whether the PRC has fulfilled its BWC obligation to eliminate its assessed historical biological warfare program, as required under Article II of the Convention.
CONDUCT GIVING RISE TO COMPLIANCE CONCERNS
The PRC became a State Party to the BWC in 1984, and has submitted BWC CBMs each year since 1989, including in 2023. The PRC’s CBM reporting has never disclosed it ever pursued an offensive BW program, but the PRC had reportedly weaponized ricin, botulinum toxins, and the causative agents of anthrax, cholera, plague, and tularemia, as part of its historical BW program. Questions and concerns regarding PRC compliance with the BWC have been reported since the 1993 Report.
The PLA’s research organizations have been conducting and directing military research related to dual-use marine toxins. The PRC’s CBMs do not include information on marine toxin research conducted at PLA institutions.
ANALYSIS OF COMPLIANCE CONCERNS
PRC military medical institutions conducted toxin and biotechnology research and development with potential BW applications, which raises concern regarding the PRC’s compliance with Article I of the BWC. Article I requires States Parties “never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire or retain …[m]icrobial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes.”
In addition, the United States assesses that the PRC possessed an offensive BW program from the early 1950s to at least the late 1980s. There is no available information to demonstrate that the PRC took steps to fulfill its obligations under Article II of the BWC, which requires the PRC to destroy or to divert to peaceful purposes all items specified in Article I of its past offensive BW program.
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE COMPLIANCE CONCERNS AND NEXT STEPS
In November 2023, the United States and the PRC met in Washington for bilateral discussions on arms control, and discussed compliance related issues. The United States also stressed the importance of not spreading false claims about U.S. biological threat reduction activities. The United States continues to engage the PRC about the implementation of its BWC obligations. The United States will continue to monitor and report, as well as pursue substantive bilateral engagement with the PRC, as well as raise awareness with partners on the PRC’s biological activities in relation to its compliance with the BWC.
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Source: U.S. Department of State
Author: N/A
Format: Report
China Policy Research 