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Training begins for weapons destruction

Updated: 2013-11-05 00:14

By Mo Jingxi and Li Xiaokun ( China Daily)

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'Actively engaged'

"Considering the special situation in Syria, it is possible that the chemical weapons will be moved to other countries that already have destruction facilities to save time," said Yang Jianguo, who has worked in OPCW since 1997 and retired in 2010.

However, that possibility still depends on the final destruction plan, he said.

Li Guofu, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Chinese professionals' involvement shows that China is fully aware of its responsibilities and obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and wants to play a full role in peacekeeping.

"It is of great significance, not only for Syria. It shows that China is actively engaged in global affairs," Li said.

Li said the situation in Syria has changed dramatically after the international community promoted a political resolution to the Syrian civil war.

"Certain forces in Syria, supported by some countries secretly, are making trouble and obstacles for the Second Geneva Convention. Militants even launched several terrorist attacks," Li said.

He suggested the Chinese chemical experts "pay high attention" to their security.

Yin Gang, an expert on Middle East studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China has always tried its best in tasks assigned by the UN.

In 2003, China sent Yu Jianxing, a top expert in chemical defense for the destruction of chemical weapons to Iraq. Yu, then head of the UN weapons inspection group in Iraq, died in an accident during the assignment.

"Despite this great sacrifice, China, as a major power with chemical defense capabilities and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, still performs its responsibilities," Yin said.

The Ministry of National Defense said on Friday that Beijing is paying close attention to the security of its experts.

The ministry told China Daily that Chinese officials "have expressed our hope to the organization and the UN that security of the experts can be guaranteed, as well as logistics support for their work".

Team members share a common dream

Guo Jianzeng has worked hard for decades to achieve a world that does not need him anymore.

Guo, a chemical warfare expert in the People's Liberation Army, started training in The Hague on Monday with experts from many other countries in how to inspect and verify the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria. A chemical weapons attack in August reportedly killed 1,429, including 426 children.

"From the scenes shown live on TV, you see a lot of suffering from ordinary people, including children," Guo said.

Guo was a Chinese member of the first group of experts of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons when the Chemical Weapons Convention went into force in 1997.

In October, the organization won the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

Large-scale chemical warfare was used for the first time by Germans in Ypres, Belgium, in 1915, during World War I. Since then, the international community has called for the prohibition of chemical weapons because of their horrible effects.

"About five decades later, we are glad to see that the OPCW has carried out the disarmament efforts and cleared 80 percent of the world's chemical weapons. For this reason, I think what we are engaged in is indeed meaningful," Guo said.

Guo spent 13 years in the organization and worked in almost every country that had chemical weapons.

"We expect that peace can come to Syria so that its chemical weapons can be destroyed as soon as possible," he said.

It is a dream shared by two other Chinese experts assigned the task.

One of them, Zhang Guohua, formerly worked with Guo at the organization.

"As an inspector, I'm not working for the interests of a certain country like Syria. My wish is to destroy all the weapons of mass destruction in the world," he said.

Though fully prepared for potential difficulties in Syria, "it is impossible to avoid every danger, even in a bulletproof or armored car", he said

Still, Zhang said, he and his colleagues can count on security guarantees from the United Nations, the OPCW and professional support from senior Chinese experts.

China Daily

Contact the writers at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn and lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn

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Training begins for weapons destruction

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