Preventing arms race in space
Anina Dalbert | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF 19 March 2013
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Tuesday, 19 March to focus on the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS). The opening remarks of the incoming CD President, Ambassador Triyono Wibowo of Indonesia, were followed by statements from Kyrgyzstan, European Union, Japan, China, United States, Australia, Egypt, Iran, India, Belarus, and the Russian Federation as the Chair of the group of governmental experts (GGE) on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities and Algeria.
Transparency and Confidence-Building Measure (TCBM) or a legally binding treaty?
While all countries delivering statements agreed that TCMBs could be very useful in the context of outer space as a global common good and to prevent an arms race, not all agreed whether they should only be voluntary and are sufficient to address security in outer space or not.
Mr. Vipul from India asserted that while his country “is participating in efforts led by, among others, the EU in this regard, they cannot substitute legally binding instruments”. Mr. El-Atawy of Egypt stated that TCBMs would build confidence, but could never replace a legally binding multilateral instrument. Ambassador Wu Haitao of China stressed that a legally binding instrument would be a “fundamental approach”. Ambassador Laura Kennedy of the US, however, asserted “these TCBMs are pragmatic, voluntary, near-term actions that we can do to increase trust and prevent misperceptions, miscalculations, and mistrust between nations.”
Most delegations referred to the draft treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space (PPWT) submitted by China and Russia to the CD in 2008. Some countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Iran, Belarus, and Algeria believed it was a good basis to start treaty negotiations, while others noted that there still remained some outstanding issues to resolve. For example, Australia believed substantial obstacles to this proposal, “relating to definitions, scope and verifiability” exist.
Code of Conduct
Mr. Andres Kos from the European Union stressed the fact that the EU has been working hard on its draft International Code of Conduct. After presenting the last official draft in Vienna on 5 June 2012, the EU “launched extensive consultations to promote the development” of the code. He highlighted that many non-EU countries now also support the code. Ambassador Kennedy of the United States for instance stated that the “development of such a non-legally binding Code of Conduct is an effective, pragmatic and timely way of strengthening the long-term sustainability, stability, safety, and security of the space environment.” She asserts that the draft is a good basis, and also serves as a good example of a TCBM. Australia believed that the code offered a straightforward means for action to protect the space environment and infrastructure.
Group of Governmental Experts (GGE)
General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/68 called for a creation of a GGE on transparency and confidence building measures in outer space. The second GGE session will be held in Geneva from 1-5 April. Mr. Victor Vasiliev of Russia spoke as the Chair of the GGE. As a conclusion of the first session he listed a number of objectives where comprehensive TCBMs are needed, such as: disarmament, reducing international tension, collisions and as a result space debris. Those TCBMs should complement existing international law on this topic. However, Mr. Vasiliev stated that most experts shared their view that these measures should be voluntary. In the same sense, Ambassador Kennedy saw the key objective for the GGE to “develop a consensus report to the UN Secretary General that outlines a list of pragmatic space TCBMs that nations can sign up to on a voluntary basis.”
Next plenary meeting
The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, 26 March at 10:00, and will focus on the issue of negative security assurances.