Statement on International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space*

Abstract

In this 2005 statement, the Chinese representative comments on activities at the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and UNISPACE III and the space activities in China. Mr Chairman, 1. At the outset, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese delegation, to express our thanks and appreciation to the Bureau of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the UN Secretariat for the positive outcome of COPUOS's 48th Session. China attaches great importance to the item of ''Inter- national Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space'', and hopes that consideration of this item will facilitate interaction among countries in activities relating to peaceful uses of outer space and expand areas of international co-operation. 2. Mr Chairman, at its 48th Session, COPUOS continued its consideration of ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. While humans are achieving notable progress in peaceful uses of outer space, they are faced with daunting challenges in outer space and its peaceful uses, namely the ever-expanding military uses of outer space, the increasing danger of its weaponization and the on-going research and test of space weapons. These practices go against the principle of peaceful uses of outer space set out in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, and also run counter to the Space Millennium Declara- tion adopted at UNISPACE III. It is China's hope that COPUOS will strengthen its efforts in opposing space militarization and weaponization, preventing an arms race in outer space,