Reluctant Participant

Abstract

This chapter investigates the evolution in China's missile nonproliferation policies. It argues that U.S. policy intervention played a key role in influencing the limited changes in Chinese policies and practices on missile nonproliferation. In addition, it assesses the evolution of China's policies on missile nonproliferation from 1987 to 2004. The nonproliferation pledges of China were narrow and subsequently reinterpreted to justify its noncompliance. A pervasive bias against the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), strong incentives to export missiles, and systemic weaknesses in the government's ability to control missile sales affected China's missile-export policies and practices. China still provided missile-related goods to Pakistan and Iran for their missile programs and continued to assist other nations' missile programs as well. The changes in Chinese missile nonproliferation policies since 9/11 may or may not represent a new stage in China's perceptions and behavior.