Chinese Export Controls and Jiang Zemin's Visit to the United StatesChina has recently issued comprehensive new export control regulations that cover missile technology, chemical weapons precursors and technology, and biological agent related items. In addition, the government has also amended the Regulations on Control of Military Products Export. These new regulations and their corresponding control lists have largely brought Chinese export controls in line with existing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) export control regimes such as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Australia Group. This policy shift can be attributed to China's increased recognition of the dangers that proliferation of these sorts of weapons and weapons systems posed to its own security and to an effort to improve relations with the United States. The new export control regulations fill most of the gaps identified by U.S. policy-makers in China's earlier export control regime. The new regulations and control lists will consolidate China's emerging domestic export control system by developing and nurturing rule-based export practices. The newest regulations have been issued on the eve of Jiang Zemin's summit visit to the United States to meet with President Bush. Creating a positive atmosphere ahead of the summit is an important motivation for Beijing's timing on the release of these new regulations. At the same time, last year's terrorist attacks have heightened China's awareness of its own security needs with regards to the spread of WMD and their delivery systems. Although the new regulations close loopholes that have previously been exploited by Chinese companies, the Chinese government will retain the right to issue export licenses based on its own assessment of the risks associated with specific technologies and specific end-users. In other words, the regulations as issued will not necessarily limit China's trade of controlled items with countries like Iran. How the new export controls are implemented, and how rigorously the Chinese government enforces them, will determine their ultimate effectiveness in stopping exports of Chinese technology that can be used to produce WMD and WMD delivery systems. New Chinese Export Control Regulations
Chinese Statements on Nonproliferation and Export Controls
CNS Analyses
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