Support for the Countries and Peoples of Latin America in their Struggle to Safeguard National Independence and State Sovereignty

In the mid 60s, Latin American countries initiated the establishment of a Latin American Nuclear Free Zone and fervently hoped that China support the relevant treaties and accede to the relevant protocals. On 14 November 1972, Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei issued a statement on behalf of the Chinese government in which he pointed out that the Chinese Government respected and supported the just proposal of the Latin American countries to establish a Latin American nuclear-free zone, agreed to the contents of the number two protocal of the Latin American Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, undertook that ?China will never use or threat to use nuclear weapon against Latin American non-nuclear states or nuclear-free zones, nor will it tests, manufacture, produce, stockpile, assemble or deploy nuclear weapons in these countries or regions or to allow nuclear weapons means of delivery to pass through the territories, airspace or waters of the Latin American countries. On 21 August 1973, the Chinese Government representative, Chinese Ambassador to Mexico Hsiung Xianghui signed the number two protocal annex of the Latin America Treaty on the prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. At the same time, the Chinese Government issued a statement in which it declared respect and support to the just proposal of the Latin American countries on the establishment of a Latin America Nuclear-Free Zone aimed at opposing the nuclear threat and nuclear blackmail of the super-powers and safeguarding the peace and security of Latin America. It reiterated that the Chinese government stands ready to continue making unremitting efforts together with the Latin American countries and all the peace-loving countries of the world for the realization of the great goal of complete prohibition and total destruction of nuclear weapons throughout the world.

The struggle initiated by Latin American countries in the 1970s to safeguard the maritime rights of 200 nautical miles gathered greater momentum. China has all along supported the position of the third world countries in this struggle to defend the national economic interests of the countries in that region and to oppose maritime hegemonism. As early as September 1971, Premier Zhou Enlai pointed out in his written answer to question raised by the Peruvian journalist Torre that the struggle of the Latin American countries and peoples to defend their maritime rights of 200 nautical miles is a just one. Countries of Latin America have the right to decide on the width and sphere of jurisdiction of its territorial waters in the light of the specific conditions and needs of each country as well as the right to control its maritime resources. This is the sovereignty right of a country. The neighboring littoral countries may on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and mutual respect for each other?s sovereignty, demarcate the limits of their territorial waters through consultations and no other country should interfere or infringe upon their rights.