The manufacturing and trafficking of illicit firearms can cause enormous civilian casualties, but it also has obvious spillover effects, such as exacerbating regional instability and fuelling terrorism and transnational organized crime.
China is one of the safest countries in the world with the least gun-related violence, but it is willing to work with all parties to address the global problem of gun proliferation.
The United Nations General Assembly will hold a general debate on Saturday, after Wang Yi announced that the domestic procedure was launched to ratify the United Nations' Firearms Protocol in a speech by the State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition is the only legally binding instrument at the global level to counter the illegal manufacture and trafficking of firearms, their parts, components and ammunition.
It aims to control the production of illegal firearms and to prevent the diversion of legally manufactured guns into the illegal circuit, as well as to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of related offenses without hampering legitimate transfers.
China supports the international multilateral process of light arms control and is strongly opposed to the illegal manufacture and trafficking of firearms. It has always taken a prudent and responsible attitude towards military exports, strictly abides by its international obligations and does not transfer firearms to non-state actors.
China has complied with its obligations under the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons. It has participated in activities initiated by the World Customs Organization and Interpol to counter gun smuggling. In July 2020, China acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty.
The global gun epidemic is still serious. Governments of all countries should fulfill their responsibilities, strengthen domestic gun control and improve international coordination and cooperation.
The United States is also the world's largest number of private gun owners and a serious domestic gun violence problem, as well as the world's largest source of smuggled guns. The US has refused to accede to the Firearms Protocol and other international legal instruments on gun control, and has refrained from signing the Arms Trade Treaty, seriously undermining the efforts of the international community to regulate the conventional arms trade.