1. Mr. President,

The Philippines joins the international community in celebrating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. We recognize the leadership of Kazakhstan in vigorously pursuing the purposes celebrated today. We are reminded of the importance of a concerted effort against nuclear tests, the last of which was conducted only last year 2017 .

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

2. Recognizing the destructive effect on the environment of nuclear testing, and the horrendous effect of the use of nuclear weapons—deliberately or inadvertently, in cold calculation or panic—the Philippines signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996 and deposited its instrument of ratification in 2001. The Philippines continues to support the treaty and its earliest ratification. If nuclear weapons still hold some attraction; its lethal efficacy is already proven; what need then to test. Further testing can only mean its progressive refinement in yield, destructiveness, dependability of delivery, and accuracy of targeting. But every step forward in these respects is a step backward in nuclear weaponry’s deterrent effect; which was never so great as when nuclear weapons stockpiles were so enormous in yield and limitless destruction that none could contemplate their use for any purpose; thereby producing the Long Peace of the balance of nuclear terror. This morally gross benefit stands to be lost by continued testing. The better these weapons get by increasing their capacity for discriminating use, the greater the temptation and the more compelling the argument for their use.

3. Bearing in mind the significance of the CTBT, we join others in urging the eight remaining Annex 2 States 2 to sign and ratify the Treaty at the soonest possible time to bring it into force.

4. The 2010 NPT Review Conference, which was chaired by the Philippines, reaffirmed the essential role of the CTBT. The Outcome Document noted that the cessation of all nuclear weapon test explosions and all other nuclear explosions, by constraining the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and ending the development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons, the Treaty combats both horizontal and vertical proliferation and as I argue weaken their deterrent virtue.

SEANWFZ

5. The Philippines, as a member of ASEAN, notes that the provision in the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ)—which states that each State Party shall undertake not to allow the existence of nuclear weapons in its territory—says in effect that there shall be no testing or use of nuclear weapons in the zone.

US-DPRK

6. The Philippines hopes for continuing engagement and increasingly concrete progress towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace, stability and security in the region.

7. We take sanguine note of the announcement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of a moratorium on missile tests and nuclear tests, and its dismantling of a nuclear test and satellite-launching site. It is critical to peace that the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continue their dialogue
in seeking resolution to outstanding issues between all the parties concerned.

8. The Philippines supports a cautious and critical engagement that promotes the strengthening of an international legal landscape that expressly delegitimizes nuclear testing so it won’t happen again—or less and less.

9. Thank you, Mr. President. 

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