A new wave of interest in the complete elimination of nuclear weapons is washing over international security institutions. Although the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world is as old as the nuclear age, it seems more serious and urgent now, especially after President Barack Obama's remarks in Prague, where he renewed the U.S. commitment to a nuclear-free world and laid out a road map to achieve this goal. 1 In a UN resolution in September 2009, the original five nuclear-weapons states further

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... mmitted to: . . . create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all. 2 China has maintained a long-standing position in support of complete nuclear disarmament ever since the day it conducted its first nuclear test on October 16, 1964. On that same day, Beijing proposed that a global summit be held to discuss the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons: . . . and that as the first step, the summit conference conclude an agreement to the effect that the nuclear powers and those countries which may soon become nuclear powers undertake not to use nuclear weapons either against nonnuclear countries and nuclear-free zones or against each other. 3 China's position has not changed. What kind of implications does Beijing's stance have on the nuclear-free world campaign?