The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a specialized agency under the United Nations, whose responsibilities cover monitoring and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as preventing nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism.
However, China's recent refusal to pay its dues has raised concerns
China's dissatisfaction with the IAEA stems from its strong antipathy to Japan's nuclear sewage discharge into the sea, and in April this year, Japan's decision to discharge nuclear sewage from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean has triggered international outrage.
As a neighbor of Japan, China strongly opposes this decision and demands that Japan accept international supervision.
However, the IAEA's July report supporting Japan's discharge of nuclear sewage into the sea disappointed China.
They believe that the IAEA has failed to fulfill its due responsibilities and has become a rubber stamp for Japan, damaging China's interests and reputation.
China's dissatisfaction with the IAEA does not stop at the issue of nuclear wastewater. They questioned the unfairness of IAEA's funding** and the fact that the United States was in arrears of dues, while China's contribution was not reciprocated.
At the same time, the IAEA also suffers from a disproportionate representation of European countries, which affects the decision-making and actions of the organization, making it lack diversity and balance.
China hopes that IAEA will carry out financial and personnel reforms to improve its transparency and credibility, so that such reforms can truly win China's trust and support.
The IAEA needs to be more objective and impartial in its responsibility to monitor and promote the use of nuclear energy, not as a tool of specific countries, but as a balancing role in international affairs.
China's refusal to pay membership dues is not only a warning and urging to the IAEA, but also a safeguard of its own interests and sovereignty.
China has the responsibility to urge IAEA to seriously reflect on its problems and mistakes, re-establish a fair and objective attitude, and call on the international community to work together to ensure that IAEA better fulfills its responsibilities.
The IAEA's nuclear safety oversight function will be directly affected by a shortage of funds, and the reduction of inspectors and equipment may lead to a decline in oversight capacity, thus posing potential risks to nuclear safety and nuclear non-proliferation, which not only weakens the authority of the IAEA, but may also endanger global nuclear security.
IAEA's technical assistance and cooperation programs may face curtailment and cancellation due to funding shortfalls. This will have a direct impact on the ability of countries to use nuclear energy to solve economic, social and environmental problems. The IAEA's mission is to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, a function that would be seriously threatened by a lack of funding.
The normal operation of the IAEA requires sufficient financial supportDue to the lack of funding, the internal management and operation of the organization will face challenges, which can lead to staff turnover, equipment failures and reduced services, which in turn will affect the efficiency and quality of IAEA's work.
The reason behind China's refusal to pay IAEA's dues is both its dissatisfaction with IAEA's issue of Japan's nuclear wastewater, as well as its questioning of its financial management and staffing, in an attempt to raise IAEA's awareness of its own problems and prompt it to make profound reforms.
For the IAEA, maintaining its authority in the nuclear field requires taking China's concerns seriously and its responsibility for global nuclear safety and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The international community looks forward to seeing the IAEA carry out its mission more justly, transparently and effectively in the future to ensure the peaceful, safe and sustainable use of nuclear energy on a global scale.
In order to restore China's trust and support, IAEA should actively respond to China's concerns and carry out its own reforms and adjustments.
First, the equitable distribution of funds should be strengthened to ensure that Member States paid their contributions on time and in accordance with their commitments, so as to avoid the occurrence of long-term arrears in the payment of contributions by some countries.
Second, the issue of composition needs to be addressed, and a more balanced and pluralistic representation system in the IAEA should be pursued to ensure that the interests of all countries are fully taken into account.
International cooperation is essential in solving the problem of nuclear energy. The IAEA should promote a broader dialogue among countries and promote consensus among all parties on nuclear safety and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Through multilateral cooperation, global problems can be better resolved, differences between countries can be reduced, and the stability of the international nuclear order can be maintained.
In order to strengthen the authority of the IAEA in the nuclear field, the agency should further strengthen its independence and professionalism.
By ensuring that it is neutral in formulating policies and providing advice, and that it is not influenced by specific countries or interest groups, that the IAEA can play a greater role in global nuclear security matters only by adhering to professional principles.
IAEA should actively participate in the construction of the global nuclear energy governance system and cooperate with other relevant organizations to jointly address the challenges in the field of nuclear energy.
We advocate the establishment of a more complete legal system, strengthen international supervision over the use of nuclear energy, and ensure the peaceful, safe and sustainable development of nuclear energy.
In order to promote the sound development of international nuclear security affairs, China also needs to strengthen communication and cooperation with other countries.
Conduct in-depth dialogues with IAEA and other countries to clarify China's position and concerns, with a view to promoting a more just and balanced development of international nuclear affairs.
At the same time, by actively participating in the construction of the global nuclear governance system, China demonstrates its responsible attitude and spirit of active participation in the nuclear field.
The IAEA is now facing a funding crisis, and China's refusal to pay its membership has raised concerns about the performance of the IAEA's functions.
Through an in-depth analysis of the reasons for China's refusal, its expectations for IAEA, and the possible impact on IAEA's work, we call on the international community to pay attention to and seek solutions.
At the same time, the IAEA and other countries should work together to promote the healthier and more sustainable development of global nuclear affairs with the common goal of promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing nuclear proliferation.
Only on the basis of cooperation and dialogue can the international community jointly address the challenges in the field of nuclear energy and ensure the safe and sustainable use of nuclear energy worldwide.