States and some organisations have expressed their views about the utility, purpose, scope and process of the legal review of weapons in various different contexts. Some of these views have been recorded domestic documents, such as military manuals on the law of armed conflict. Increasingly, however, States and organisations have articulated their positions in a range of international fora, either through written submissions or oral interventions.
This database compiles and organises publicly expressed views in relation to legal reviews, without prejudice to their relative significance or effect (for example, in terms of the development of customary international law). The database aims to comprehensively reflect the views of states but only covers the positions of a small number of selected organisations.
This database currently contains 379 positions and is continuously updated. Any corrections, or suggestions to add material, are welcome.
5 positions China (remove filter)
2024
Statement by China
… legal review is stipulated in Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions. All states parties should strictly implement their obligations. Most states parties, including China, have relevant review and evaluation mechanisms as a CBM. Countries are encouraged to formulate corresponding legal review mechanism in light …
2023
Statement by China
Legal review is a provision in AP I of Geneva Conventions. All High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions should strictly fulfil the obligations by carrying out legal reviews on AWS and other new weapons. Such reviews can help to prevent misuse of technology and …
2018
Position Paper
4. In addition, national reviews on the research, development and use of new weapons have, to a certain extent, positive significance on preventing the misuse of relevant technologies and on reducing harm to civilians. However, as national policies and practices in this regard differ quite …
2017
Statement by China
We have noted that some countries proposed a self-review of the legitimacy of weapons at the stage of their R&D. In our view, although national reviews of a weapons have some positive role and many countries, including China, have relevant mechanisms for review and assessment, …
2006
IHL and ERW: Response from China
3. … Senior functional agencies have been set up in general staff departments and military procurement departments to review the legality of new weapons, new methods of waging war and proposed new military theories.