UNITED NATIONS, March 11. /TASS/. China believes that the issues brought up by Russia about potential biological warfare developed in biolabs of Ukraine should be tackled with proper attention, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun said at a session of the UN Security Council on Friday.
"China has noted with concern the information Russia circulated to enforce the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. It is the obligation of all countries. The concerns raised by Russia should be properly addressed. China calls on all parties concerned to comply with their obligations under the Convention, give comprehensive explanations and accept multilateral verification," he said.
"We have taken note of media reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the Ukrainian authorities destroy pathogens in those laboratories to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases," the Chinese diplomat went on to say. "We expect to receive more precise information on the subject. We call for security of those laboratories."
Zhang Jun pointed out that China "attaches huge importance to biological security and has consistently advocated the total prohibition and annihilation of all weapons of mass destruction, including biological warfare, and also stands against any development, storage, and use of biological and chemical weapons by any country and under any circumstances."
"China urges the countries that have not yet disposed of their stockpiles of chemical weapons to do it as soon as possible, and to completely abide by the principles of Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Biological warfare are weapons of mass destruction. Any information about military biological activities must be brought to the attention of the international community," the Chinese ambassador to the UN Security Council said.
Earlier, Igor Kirillov, who heads the Russian army’s radiation, chemical and biological protection force, reported that a network of over 30 biological labs was uncovered on Ukrainian soil, which had been run by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the US Department of Defense. Washington claims that statements about the operation of US-run bio laboratories in Ukraine are propaganda and disinformation.