China Urges Stop Politicising Arms Control Mechanisms

China warned against politicising multilateral arms control mechanisms, criticizing a US-led joint statement at the Conference on Disarmament over Pacific missile tests and calls to follow the Hague Code. BEIJING: China on Wednesday urged relevant countries to stop abusing multilateral arms control mechanisms for political purposes and instead create conditions conducive to dialogue and cooperation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to a joint statement issued by the United States and several other countries during a meeting of the Conference on Disarmament on Tuesday. According to reports, the joint statement alleged that recent missile testing activity in the Pacific had not followed 'standard practices' for providing advance notification, warning that such activities could increase the risk of miscalculation and undermine regional stability. The countries also called for implementation of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. The statement was widely seen as referring to China's submarine-launched ballistic missile test conducted in July. Asked to comment, Guo said the joint statement had 'brandished' the Hague Code of Conduct while making an indirect reference to China's missile test, describing the move as politically motivated. 'The so-called joint statement by the US and relevant countries ... was driven solely by political motives and fully reveals their hypocrisy and double standards,' Guo said. He urged the countries concerned to refrain from politicising multilateral arms control mechanisms and to contribute positively to international security and stability. 'China urges relevant countries to create the necessary conditions for enhancing dialogue and exchanges in the area of arms control,' Guo added. China has consistently called for strengthening multilateralism in arms control and opposed what it describes as selective application of international rules and mechanisms.