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Disarmament Documentation

China Missile Export Regulations, August 25

I: Foreign Ministry Statement
II: The New Regulations

I: Foreign Ministry Statement

'Statement on the Promulgation of Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Missiles', Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, August 25.

The Chinese Government has just promulgated Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Missiles and Missile-Related Items and Technologies, and the attached Missiles and Missile-related Items and Technologies Export Control List, which set forth in clear terms further measures for the export control of sensitive missile-related items and technologies. The Regulations and the Control List have entered into force as of the date of its promulgation. It represents another important step taken by the Chinese Government in line with its non-proliferation policies.

China attaches great importance to non-proliferation and stands against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. As a state party to a series of international treaties on non-proliferation, the Chinese Government has faithfully honoured its international obligations. On the export of missiles and missile-related dual-use items and technologies, China has always taken a prudent and responsible attitude and strictly carried out its non-proliferation policies as well as international commitments in this regard.

For years, China has, in light of international and domestic developments, been improving its export control regimes through reviewing its own export control practice and drawing on other countries' experiences. A series of regulations, aimed at enhancing export control over sensitive items, have been successively promulgated. The promulgation of Regulations on Export Control of Missiles and Missile-Related Items and Technologies and the attached Control List marks a new step forward in China's legal framework for export control.

China will continue to take an active part in the international cooperation in non-proliferation, stand ready to conduct in-depth exchanges and consultation with all parties and actively participate in multilateral discussions and cooperation in this regard. We are prepared to work with all parties concerned to strengthen and improve the international non-proliferation regime on the basis of universal participation and non-discrimination.

Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/33966.html.

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II: The New Regulations

'Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Export Control of Missiles and Missile-Related Items and Technologies', Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, August 25.

Article 1

These Regulations are formulated for the purposes of strengthening export control of missiles and missile-related items and technologies, and safeguarding the State security and social and public interests.

Article 2

The export of missiles and missile-related items and technologies referred to in these Regulations means the export for trade of missiles and missile-related equipment, materials and technologies listed in 'The Missiles and Missile-related Items and Technologies Export Control List' (hereinafter referred to as the Control List) attached to these Regulations, and the gift to, exhibition in, scientific and technological cooperation with, assistance to, provision of service for as such and other forms of technological transfer thereof to foreign countries and regions.

Article 3

The State shall exercise strict control on the export of missiles and missile-related items and technologies so as to prevent the proliferation of missiles and other delivering systems listed in the Control List that can be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction.

Article 4

The State shall practice a licensing system for the export of missiles and missile-related items and technologies. Without being licensed, no unit or individual shall export missiles and missile-related items and technologies.

Article 5

The export of items and technologies listed in Part I of the Control List shall be subject to the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of Arms Export and other relevant provisions.

To export items and technologies listed in Part II of the Control List (hereinafter referred to as missile-related items and technologies), the exporter shall follow the examination and approval procedures provided for in Articles 7 to 13 of these Regulations; however, the export of missile-related items and technologies for military purpose shall be subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 6

The receiving party of missile-related items and technologies shall guarantee not to use missile-related items and technologies supplied by China for purposes other than the declared end-use, nor to transfer missile-related items and technologies supplied by China to any third party other than the declared end-user without the consent of the Chinese Government.

Article 7

Exporters of missile-related items and technologies shall register themselves with the competent department in charge of foreign economic relations and trade of the State Council (hereinafter referred to as the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council). Without such registration, no unit or individual shall export missile-related items and technologies. The specific measures for such registration shall be formulated by the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council.

Article 8

Anyone who intends to export missile-related items and technologies shall apply to the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council, fill in the export application form for missile-related items and technologies (hereinafter referred to as the export application form), and submit the following documents:

identification of the applicant's legal representative, chief managers and the persons handling the deal;
duplicates of the contract or agreement;
technical specifications of the missile-related items and technologies;
certificates of the end-user and end-use;
documents of guarantee as defined in Article 6;
other documents as may be required by the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council.

Article 9

An applicant shall truthfully fill in the export application form.

Export application forms shall be uniformly produced by the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council.

Article 10

The competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council shall, from the date of receiving the export application form and the documents set forth in Article 8 of these Regulations, examine the application, or examine the application jointly with other relevant departments of the State Council and relevant departments of the Central Military Commission, and make a decision of approval or denial within 45 working days.

Article 11

Where the export of missile-related items and technologies entails significant impact on the State security, social and public interests, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council shall, jointly with relevant departments, submit the case to the State Council and the Central Military Commission for approval.

Where the export of missile-related items and technologies is submitted to the State Council and the Central Military Commission for approval, the timing restriction set forth in Article 10 of these Regulations shall not be applied.

Article 12

Where an application for the export of missile-related items and technologies is examined and approved, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council shall issue a licence for the export of missile-related items and technologies (hereinafter referred to as an export licence), and notify the Customs in writing.

Article 13

An export licence holder who intends to change the missile-related items and technologies originally applied for export shall return the original export licence and file a new application to obtain a new export licence according to relevant provisions of these Regulations.

Article 14

While exporting missile-related items and technologies, the exporter shall present the export licence to the Customs, complete the customs procedures and accept supervision and control of the Customs in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Law.

Article 15

Where the receiving party contravenes the guarantees made according to the provisions of Article 6 of these Regulations or there is a risk of proliferation of missiles and other delivering systems listed in the Control List that can be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council shall suspend or revoke the export licence granted and notify the Customs in writing.

Article 16

Where the exporter knows or should know that the missile-related items and technologies to be exported will be used by the receiving party directly in its program for developing missiles and other delivering systems listed in the Control List that can be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction, the export shall be subject to the provisions of these Regulations even if the items or technologies are not listed in the Control List.

Article 17

Upon approval by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council may, jointly with relevant departments, temporarily decide to exercise export control on specific items and technologies other than those listed in the Control List in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

Article 18

Those who export missile-related items and technologies without being licensed, or export missile-related items and technologies beyond the scope of the export licence without authorization, shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of the criminal law on the crime of smuggling, the crime of illegal business operations, the crime of divulging State secrets or other crimes; if such acts are not serious enough for criminal punishment, by distinguishing different circumstances, they shall be punished in accordance with relevant provisions of the Customs Law, or be given a warning, confiscated of their illegal income, and fined not less than one time but not more than five times the illegal income by the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council; the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council may concurrently suspend or even revoke the licensing for their foreign trade operations.

Article 19

Those who forge, alter, buy or sell the licence for the export of missile-related items and technologies shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of the criminal law on the crime of illegal business operations or the crime of forging, altering, buying or selling official documents, certificates or seals of a State organ; if such acts are not serious enough for criminal punishment, they shall be punished in accordance with relevant provisions of the Customs Law, and the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council may concurrently revoke the licensing for their foreign trade operations.

Article 20

Where a license for the export of missile-related items and technologies is obtained by fraud or other illegal means, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council shall revoke such an export license, confiscate the illegal income, impose a fine of not more than the illegal income, and suspend or even revoke the licensing for their foreign trade operations.

Article 21

Where, in violation of Article 7 of these Regulations, the export of missile-related items and technologies is operated without registration, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council shall ban such illegal activities according to law, and relevant competent departments of the State shall impose punishment thereon in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 22

Where the State functionaries in charge of control on the export of missile-related items and technologies abuse their powers, neglect their duties or extort or accept money or properties from others by taking advantage of their positions, they shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of the criminal law on the crime of abuse of power, the crime of neglect of duties, the crime of accepting bribes and other crimes; if such acts are not serious enough for criminal punishment, they shall be given administrative sanctions according to law.

Article 23

In light of actual situations, the competent foreign economic and trade department of the State Council may, jointly with relevant departments, amend the Control List and submit it to the State Council and the Central Military Commission for approval before implementation.

Article 24

These Regulations shall be effective as of the date of promulgation.

Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/33980.html.

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