Verifying States' non-proliferation obligations — past, present and into the future (Chinese Edition)

Both 2020 and 2022 are important milestones for the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. In 2020, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) turned 50, after decades of helping to stop nuclear proliferation. In 1963, US President Kennedy cautioned the possibility in the 1970s of a world in which up to 25 nations could have nuclear weapons. Thanks to the NPT, this never came to be. For the IAEA, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the first safeguards agreements in connection with the NPT. These agreements entrusted the IAEA with unique rights of access to States to verify their exclusively peaceful use of nuclear material and technology. The IAEA provides reassurance — at country, regional and global levels — that States are in compliance with their safeguards obligations. 2022 also marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Model Additional Protocol, on which additional protocols (APs) are based. APs are vital instruments that provide the IAEA with more access to locations and information, enabling us to better detect undeclared nuclear material and activities. These anniversaries offer a unique moment to celebrate achievements and reflect on experience gained and, perhaps most importantly, prepare for what lies ahead. The past five decades have witnessed developments with significant impacts on the nuclear non-proliferation regime and on IAEA safeguards. Adaptation has been key to success.