China Drafts Arms Export Control Laws

China has drafted an arms export law that will regulate weapons technology outgo as well as countries to which it exports amidst growing international arms sales.

Goods, technology or services "related to fulfillment of international obligations or national security," will come under Beijing's list of export-controlled items, now submitted to the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, for deliberation. The list encompasses military-civilian dual use items, military and nuclear related products, China News Service reported Monday.

"China's export control measures are relatively scattered and not optimized, resulting in a range of controlled items and control measures not fully reciprocal and balanced with other countries. So, we needed a new law," asserted China's Commerce Minister, Zhong Shan.

The "flexible" law is said to be formulated as per past experiences and international practices. Concerned authorities will evaluate countries, persons or organizations to restrict or ban exports, based on level of "risk" posed.

"This draft could protect sensitive technologies and safeguard our national security. It is similar to the western countries blocking China from importing advanced military technologies from them," Li Daguang, a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing, told the Global Times.

"China will also not allow dangerous weapons to fall into the hands of the wrong people who could use them to sabotage peace, a move to fulfill China's international obligation," Li added.

Xu Guangyu, a senior adviser to the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association asserts the draft law to be vital in falsifying wrongful accusations about China's arms sales by western countries. "Setting up a transparent law in accordance with international practice and following it up will promote a positive image for China's arms sales," Xu said.