China finalises bid to join ATT

China has finalised “all legal procedures” to join the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.

It said on 7 July that Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, has now submitted to the UN China’s ‘Instrument of Accession to the ATT’, which outlines its alignment with conditions of membership.

“This marked China’s completion of all legal procedures to join this treaty, which will become effective for China [in] 90 days,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. China’s top legislative body voted in favour of ATT membership in mid-June.

China’s plans to attain ATT membership are intended to strengthen its reputation as a military exporter. China regards such sales as a key part in supporting a wider government-led drive to enhance the country’s strategic influence in key regions across the world.

Reflecting this intention, a spokesman from the foreign ministry said that ATT membership represented an “important measure” for China in participating in the governance of global military trade and maintaining regional stability.

He said that as a member of the treaty China is “willing to strengthen exchanges and co-operation with other countries, work together to promote the effectiveness of the treaty, and make greater contributions to improving the governance of global arms trade”.