Mr. Chairman,
The fifty-fourth session of the Legal Subcommittee held in April this year achieved great success. The Chinese delegation would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, the outgoing chair and the secretariat of the session for their dedicated work.
Mr. Chairman,
We always believe that rule of law is the fundamental safeguard for the use of outer space for peaceful purposes and its long –term sustainability. All states in carrying out their outer space activities should be guided by the treaties on outer space and the relevant principles and declarations and should abide by the law. China attaches great importance to the role of the Legal Subcommittee in promoting the rule of law in outer space. China supports the Subcommittee in continuing the research on potential legal issues from activities on the peaceful use of outer space to constantly improve the legal system on outer space, which will provide a solid legal guarantee to the long-term development of the outer space undertaking for humankind.
Mr. Chairman,
At the 54th session of the Legal Subcommittee, two new agenda items were included in the provisional agenda for next year’s session. They are entitled “Exchange of views on the concept of Space Traffic Management” and “Exchange of views on the application of international law on small satellite activities” respectively. China is of the view that the discussion on these two new items will be of positive significance to enhancing transparency of outer space activities, ensuring orderly space activities and increasing outer space security. In particular, there has been an increasing number of small satellite launches in recent years, posing major potential risks to the security of space activities and space environmental protection. This has become a common concern of all countries. At the same time, it is worth pointing out that the concept of “Space Traffic Management” has been existing for long, however the concept itself is yet to be confirmed. This item may overlap with the existing items under the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee. COPUOS should prudently consider the potential impact of this item on the current outer space legal system.
Mr. Chairman,
With regard to the agenda item, “Non-Legally Binding United Nations Instruments on Outer Space”, China actively took part in the deliberations under this agenda item. We would like to commend the efforts made by the Japanese delegation. China noted that there remained a significant divergence among all parties in the scope of deliberations on this item. We agreed in principle to the extension of this agenda item for one year to continue the discussion on the basic issues such as the mandate, the scope of deliberations and method of work with a view to forging consensus by all parties and laying a sound basis for our future work.
With regard to the agenda item, “Review of International Mechanisms for Cooperation in the Peaceful Exploration and Use of Outer Space”, the Chinese delegation, at the 54th session of the Legal Subcommittee, made a statement on China’s practices in carrying out bilateral and multilateral international cooperation as well as the main legal issues related to the relevant agreements on international cooperation. We believe international mechanisms for cooperation and the rule of law in outer space complement and reinforce each other. International cooperation is an important means to promote the rule of law in outer space while the rule of law in outer space is an institutional guarantee for deepening international cooperation. Therefore, the Legal Subcommittee should play a leading role, explore and take stock of cooperation mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of the principle of international cooperation.
With regard to the agenda item, “Capacity Building in Space Law”, we are of the view that enhancing capacity building in space law is an important guarantee for the realization of the peaceful use of outer space. The Chinese government always pays great attention to capacity building in space law and has actively conducted exchanges and cooperation with other countries in particular developing countries. Our government will continue to use platforms such as the Beitou Regional Centre to vigorously carry out education and training on space law and make due contribution to lifting the capacity building in space law of countries in our region.
Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to reiterate that China will, as always, attach importance to the rule of law in outer space, strictly abide by the basic principles established by various outer space treaties during space activities and make joint efforts with all parties and international organizations to contribute to the maintenance of a peaceful outer space for development, and cooperation and with rule of law.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.