China to join UN arms trade treaty

China to join UN arms trade treaty

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – International affairs

In News:

• China to join a global pact (UN Arms Trade Treaty) to regulate arms sales, efforts to “enhance peace and stability” in the world.

About UN Arms Trade Treaty

• The Treaty entered into force in 2014. 
• UN Arms Trade Treaty seeks to regulate the international trade in conventional arms (from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships).
• It is designed to control the flow of weapons into conflict zones.
• It requires member countries to keep records of international transfers of weapons and to prohibit cross-border shipments that can be used in human rights violations or attacks on civilians.
• It establishes common standards for the international trade of conventional weapons and seeks to reduce the illicit arms trade.

Do you know?

• While 130 countries originally signed the treaty, only 101 have ratified and joined it. India has not signed the treaty.
• For more information, read – Arms Trade Treaty