China

USA approves biggest arms sale to Taiwan in decades

Andrew — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:31:41 +0000

An F16 jet

22 Aug 2019

China has threatened to impose sanctions on US companies involved in a massive arms deal with Taiwan, and accused the US of interference in domestic affairs after the State Department approved the biggest sale of arms to the island in decades. The $8 billion deal involves 66 F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin.

The F-16 deal follows another $2 billion deal in July 2019 which included 108 Abrams battle tanks built in a factory operated by General Dynamics, and 250 stinger missiles. The July deal also drew a similar response from China, demanding the US immediately cancel the order.

Analysts told NPR that the threat of sanctions won’t have a significant impact, because the companies involved “don’t do a whole lot of business in China.”

Taiwan relies heavily on the US for military equipment. The Chinese government considers the self-governing island a breakaway province that it will one day reclaim.

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United States of America Taiwan China

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Lockheed Martin General Dynamics

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SIPRI data shows world military expenditure in 2018 grew to $1.8 trillion

Andrew — Wed, 01 May 2019 09:31:22 +0000

01 May 2019

World military expenditure has risen to $1.822 trillion in 2018, representing an increase of 2.6 per cent from 2017, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The increased figure represents an average spend of $239 per person. The five biggest spenders in 2018 were the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, India and France, which together accounted for 60 per cent of global military spending. Military spending by the USA increased for the first time since 2010, while spending by China grew for the 24th consecutive year. Key details from the data include:

Military spending in South America rose by 3.1 per cent in 2018. This was mainly due to the increase in spending by Brazil, up 5.1 per cent.
Military expenditure in Africa fell by 8.4 per cent in 2018, the fourth consecutive annual decrease since the peak in spending in 2014. There were major decreases in spending by Algeria (–6.1 per cent), Angola (–18 per cent) and Sudan (–49 per cent).
Military spending by states in the Middle East for which data is available fell by 1.9 per cent in 2018.
Total military expenditure by all 29 NATO members was $963 billion in 2018, which accounted for 53 per cent of world spending.
The largest absolute increase in spending in 2018 was by the USA ($27.8 billion), while the biggest decrease was by Saudi Arabia (–$4.6 billion).
Military spending in Turkey increased by 24 per cent in 2018 to $19.0 billion, the highest annual percentage increase among the world’s top 15 military spenders.
Six of the 10 countries with the highest military burden (military spending as a proportion of GDP) in the world in 2018 are in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia (8.8 per cent of GDP), Oman (8.2 per cent), Kuwait (5.1 per cent), Lebanon (5.0 per cent), Jordan (4.7 per cent) and Israel (4.3 per cent).

The USA and China lead increase in world military expenditure

US military spending grew—for the first time since 2010—by 4.6 per cent, reaching $649 billion in 2018. The USA remained by far the largest spender in the world, and spent almost as much on its military in 2018 as the next eight largest-spending countries combined. China, the second-largest spender in the world, increased its military expenditure by 5.0 per cent to $250 billion in 2018. This was the 24th consecutive year of increase in Chinese military expenditure. Its spending in 2018 was almost 10 times higher than in 1994, and accounted for 14 per cent of world military spending.

Three decades of growth in military spending in Asia and Oceania

Military expenditure in Asia and Oceania has risen every year since 1988. At $507 billion, military spending in the region accounted for 28 per cent of the global total in 2018, compared with just 9.0 per cent in 1988:

In 2018 India increased its military spending by 3.1 per cent to $66.5 billion.
Military expenditure by Pakistan grew by 11 per cent (the same level of growth as in 2017), to reach $11.4 billion in 2018.
South Korean military expenditure was $43.1 billion in 2018—an increase of 5.1 per cent compared with 2017 and the highest annual increase since 2005.

Increases in Central and East European countries

Several countries in Central and Eastern Europe made large increases in their military expenditure in 2018. Spending by Poland rose by 8.9 per cent in 2018 to $11.6 billion, while Ukraine’s spending was up by 21 per cent to $4.8 billion. Spending by Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania also grew (ranging from 18 per cent to 24 per cent) in 2018.

At $61.4 billion, Russian military spending was the sixth highest in the world in 2018. Its spending decreased by 3.5 per cent compared with 2017.

The original version of SIPRI's press release can be found here: https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2019/world-military-expenditure-grows-18-trillion-2018

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United States of America China Saudi Arabia Pakistan India Russian Federation Brazil

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Recruitment elsewhere

warresisters — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000

01 May 2008

How do armies outside Europe/North America recruit?

Although Europe and the United States might have their armies all over the world – and if not their armies, they surely use economical “cooperation” and development “aid” backed by their military force to maintain their political and economical influence – they are not the only countries with Armed Forces. In fact, most states in the world maintain Armed Forces. How then do other major military players recruit for their Armed Forces?

China

China in theory maintains a mixed system of conscription and “voluntary” recruitment. According to the law, “it is the glorious duty of the Chinese citizens to serve in the armed forces and join militia organisations”. The Military Service Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates that male citizens who reach the age of 18 by 31 December each year are eligible for enlistment for active service. Those who are not enlisted that year remain eligible for enlistment until the age of 22.

The People’s Liberation Army has a peacetime strength of 2.3 million soldiers. However, more than 13 million men reach military age each year. In practice, conscription is therefore almost irrelevant, and military service with the PLA is entirely voluntary, because of China’s large population and therefore the large number of individuals who volunteer to join the regular armed forces. All 18-year-olds have to register themselves with the government authorities. The main exception to this system applies to potential university students (male and female), who are required to undergo military training (usually for the duration of a week or more) before or, more often one year after their courses have commenced (Article 43 of Military Service Law).

India

India boasts the third largest armed forces in the world, with 1,3 million active troops in the Indian Army alone. While recruitment is voluntary, the economical situation in the country – with more than a quarter of the population officially living under the poverty line – guarantees a high number of potential recruits.

According to information provided by the Indian Army, an infantry private (sepoy) receives a starting salary of between Rs. 3050 and Rs. 4650 (80-120 US$).

The main recruitment method are so-called “recruitment rallies”, held regularly at different cities. And there is no shortage of potential recruits: Twenty-one-year-old Ghulam Ahmed said he had no option but to join the army to support his three sisters and mother after a road accident killed his father. “I’ve no job and this recruitment rally has given me hope,” Ahmed said, struggling to recover his breath after being put through a gruelling physical endurance test by recruiters.

In fact, major problem is not the lack of recruits, but corruption. Potential recruits try to bribe their way into the army, and fake recruiters prey on those desperate for a job with the military.

According to the Annual Report of the Indian Ministry of Defence, “there are eleven Zonal Recruiting Offices, two Gorkha Recruiting Depots and One Independent Recruiting Office in addition to 47 Regimental Centres which carry out recruitment through rallies in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Efforts are made so that each district of the country is covered by recruitment rallies at least once in a recruitment year. During the recruiting year 2005-06, the recruiting organisation has enrolled 27911 recruits for the Army.”

Similar to other countries, India too maintains a National Cadet Corps, covering 8410 schools and 5251 colleges in almost all districts of the country. In total, 1,3 million Indian youth participate in Cadet Corps.

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers reported in 2004 that joining the Indian Armed Forces is possible from 16 years on. Presently, the website of the Indian Army gives 17 1/2 years as minimum age for certain ranks and professions.

However, while there is no shortage of recruits for non-officer rank, the Indian Army faces a shortage of officers. According to official information, there is a shortage of 11,371 officers in the Army which is mainly in the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and below. Recently, there has been a debate to introduce conscription for people of higher education or government jobs, but this has finally been ruled out by the Indian government.

Poverty draft

While antimilitarists talk about a “poverty draft” when discussing the military recruitment of the USA or Britain, this term is even more appropriate in the cases of China or India. While the political elite of India would presently not allow any antimilitarist propaganda, the problem is different in India. In the land of Gandhi antimilitarism does almost not exist. Potential counter-recruitment activists would face a poverty draft that would make it almost impossible to deter people from joining the armed forces. A clear hint that the development of economic alternatives is crucial in our fight against militarism.

Andreas Speck

Programmes & Projects

International Conscientious Objection Day

Countries

China India

Theme

Conscientious objection

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China: military training for students?

warresisters — Thu, 31 May 2007 23:00:00 +0000

01 Jun 2007

According to an article posted on the World Socialist Website, China issued a student military training programme, jointly by the ministry of education, the general staff headquarters and the general political department of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) on 21 April. This programme formalises military training throughout the country’s high schools and universities.

According to the article, China already has a system of conscription on paper, requiring all citizens aged 18-22 to carry out 24 months of military service. In practice, Beijing has never enforced the draft as the PLA has always been able to recruit enough volunteers from peasant youth, desperate to get out of the impoverished countryside. Young people seeking to enter tertiary education have been exempt from military service.

A significant component of the military training is ideological. The stated aim is “to allow students to grasp basic military skills and theory, and enhance their understanding of defence and the consciousness of national security”. The plan is to strengthen the submission of students to “organisation” and “discipline”, as well as to instill the values of “patriotism”, “collectivism” and “revolutionary heroism”.

The new policy calls for an expansion of defence courses and professional military staff on tertiary campuses. In each high school, at least one director must be appointed in charge of the military training. Education departments will establish a system of joint offices with the PLA to direct school military training. The new military training will be compulsory for all high school and college students, and their performance will be part of their education records.

Source: WSWS, 10 May 2007

Countries

China

Theme

Conscientious objection

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Chinese People's Liberation Army adds psychological test to recruitment process

warresisters — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 23:00:00 +0000

01 Oct 2006

According to a report in People's Daily Online, new recruits of the People's Liberation Army will in future need to pass psychological tests. This is in response to increasing mental and psychological problems among young people in China. According to the report, the PLA recruitment office and research departments started piloting the psychological tests in 2002 in over 400 cities and counties. Over 100,000 applicants have taken the tests. "The contents, standards and methods of the psychological recruitment tests have been revised, improved and upgraded over the past five years," the report said, adding that the tests finally passed national assessment in July. "The move is designed to prevent young people with mental and psychological problems from joining the army," the report quoted an official with the PLA General Logistics Department as saying. "It aims to improve the overall quality of army officers and soldiers and reinforce battle effectiveness," the official said.

China has become increasingly aware of the mental health of its armed forces. Earlier this year, China's military colleges were ordered to carry out drug and psychological tests when recruiting would-be military officers.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army is almost 2.5 million strong, and is based on conscription. The Military Service Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that male citizens who reach the age of 18 by December 31 each year are eligible for enlistment for active service. Those who are not enlisted that year remain eligible for enlistment until the age of 22. Female citizens may also be enlisted, if necessary. Male citizens reaching the age of 18 before December 31 should register for military service before September 30 of the same year. Citizens who meet the required conditions for active service are enlisted into active service after gaining approval from the military service organs of their own counties, autonomous counties, cities or municipal districts.

Sources: Chinese PLA to add psychological test to recruitment process, 30 September 2006; China's National Defence 2004

Countries

China

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Conscientious objection

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China: Armed Forces to start recruiting

warresisters — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 +0000

01 Nov 2005

According to a report by Xinhua, the Chinese Armed Forces are due to start their winter recruitment on 1 November 2005, according to an order jointly issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission.

It urges governments and military recruitment departments at different levels to take it as a serious political task and ensure a completion of the recruitment.

Those who are qualified to be recruited by the Army include rural youth with the least educational background of junior middle and urban youngsters with a schooling of high school or even higher. "It is essential to recruit as many high school graduates from the countryside as possible," it says.

The age group for male candidates ranges from 18 to 20 years, while for women, it spans between 18 and 19, according to the document.

Meanwhile, high school graduates aged 17 years could also be accepted upon their own will, the order says.

Theoretically, all citizens of the People's Republic of China have the duty of performing military service, according to Article 3 of the Military Service Law of 1984. In practice, military service with the People's Liberation Army is voluntary; all 18-year-old males have to register themselves with the government authorities, in a way similar to the Selective Service System of the United States. The main exception to this system applies to potential university students, who are required to undergo military training before their courses commence, according to chapter VIII of the military service law.

Source: CRI Online, 31 October 2005, Armed Forces to Start Recruiting

Countries

China

Theme

Conscientious objection

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Peace in North-East Asia

warresisters — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 23:00:00 +0000

01 Aug 2005

Day 1 (Sunday, 26 June): Peace in North East Asia (Opening Panel)

The opening panel will introduce the different security threats and peace related issues of the region to the international and regional audience and also introduce concept of non-violent resistance, which WRI has pursued so far, and will contribute to peace movement in this region. For this panel, we aim to get speakers from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and WRI members. The panel will set the framework for the discussion on the following days.

	등록 Registration of participants
14:30 ~15:00	개회식 opening ceremony - Facilitator: Yongeun Oh (World Without War) 개회사 opening address - War Resisters' International: Joanne Sheehan, WRI Chair 환영사 welcoming address -CNPK: Junglok Oh, CO activist
15:00 ~16:30	첫째 시간: 안전과 평화를 위협하는 쟁점들 (각국의 사례발표) Session 1:The Issues Threatening Security and Peace (cases of each country) - Facilitator: Honggu Han (Korea, Cochairman of KSCO) 한국(북한포함) Korea (including North Korea): - Min Choi (Korea, activist of CNPK) 일본Japan: - Kaori (Japan, woman activist from Okinawa) 대만Taiwan: 중국China: - James Reilly (AFSC representative North-East Asia) 질의응답questions and answers
16:30 ~17:00	휴식 Coffee break
17:00 ~18:30	둘째 시간: 비폭력과 안보에 대한 소개 Session 2: Examples of Nonviolence - Facilitator: 군사주의에 대한 비폭력적 저항 Nonviolent Resistance against Militarism Andreas Speck (UK, WRI) 페미니즘에 기반 한 비폭력과 안보 Nonviolence and Security on Feminism (Focusing on International women’s movement) Ellen Elster (Norway, WRI Executive, WRI Women's Working Group) 질의응답questions and answers
19:00 ~	저녁식사 Dinner time

Day 2: Security Issues

The concept of “national security” is a common justification for disproportionate military forces in Korea and Taiwan, but also serves as justification for North Korea's WMD programme. On this day, the seminar will look at issues of (national) security, and will develop a vision of security with non-military means, based on the experience and visions of the participants.

8:00 ~ 9:30	아 침식사 Breakfast
9:30 - 11:00	첫째 시간: 국가안보에 대한 정당화와 그 영향 Session 1: National Security - Facilitator: Francis Daehoon Lee (Korea, Deputy Secretary of Peace and Disarmament Centre of PSPD) 국가안보 정당화의 방법과 과정 How Is “National Security” Constructed and Justified? - Kai-Uwe Dosch (Germany, Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft - Vereinigte Kriegsdienstgegner/innen / German Peace Society - United War Resisters) 국가안보가 미친 영향들 What are the effects of “National Security” ? (Militarized Society, Economical Problem and so on) this looks at “impact on society” 젠더 관점에서 본 국가안보 National Security from gender perspective on the regional level (Effects of “national security”/militarism on women and men, reinforcing patriarchal structures, etc...) -Elli Kim (Korea, member of the policy planning committee of WMP)
11:00 ~11:30	휴 식 Coffee break
11:30 ~13:00	Session 2: Workshops on different aspects Comment: Some of these workshops have been taken from what has previously been
	North Korean Nuclear Issues - Facilitator: Jungyu Lee (Korea, activist of CNPK)	US Bases / US hegemony in the region - Facilitator: Kaori (Japan, woman activist from Okinawa)	Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq - Facilitator: Jieun Lee (Korea, activist of CGA) or Sanglyol Son (Korea, activist of SPR)	Hegemonial demands of China and Japan in the region
13:00 ~ 15:00	점 심식사 Lunch time
15:00 ~ 16:30	Session 3: Small groups: Vision exercise on “What is security from a peace perspective”? - Facilitator: (also allow for ♀♀-only groups among the small groups) The purpose of this session is to develop a vision of what would make a secure world/region from the perspective of the participants. What is our “vision” of a secure life? What do we need to feel safe? Good explanation and handouts will be needed.
16:30 ~ 17:00	휴 식 Coffee break
17:00 ~ 18:30	Session 4: Define Security from a Peace Perspective - Facilitator: Facilitation: a good trainer would be useful -> draw from the vision developed by the small groups in session 3, identify common elements and develop together a definition of security from a peace perspective.
19:00 ~ ...	저 녁식사 Dinner time

Day 3: Nonviolent resistance and nonviolent alternatives

Day 3 takes more time to develop themes previously dealt with on day 2 in the afternoon, and some of those on day 4 in the morning. Building on the last session of the previous day, the concept of Nonviolent Social Defence as a non-military alternative will be introduced. The day also includes a 2-session long Nonviolence Training as a workshop, and will lead to some examples of nonviolent struggle which will be used to draw out crucial elements of nonviolent campaigns.

8:00 ~ 9:30	아 침식사 Breakfast
9:30 ~ 11:00	첫째 시간: 비군사적 대안으로서의 비폭력 사회적 방어 Session 1: Nonviolent Social Defence as a non-military alternative - Brian Martin (Australia, Associate Professor Science, Technology and Society, University of Wollongong) The idea of this session is to have about 30 minutes presentation, then to have buzz groups for about 30 minutes, which will discuss the relevance of such a concept for their region/country, and which will identify questions/concerns/criticism. This will then be brought back to the plenary for debate.
11:00 ~11:30	휴 식 Coffee break
11:30 ~13:00	둘째 시간: 다양한 부문들에 관한 워크샵 Session 2: Workshops on different aspects
	Workshops: Nonviolent Movements: Examples and Strategies			Practical Training of Nonviolent Action Trainers: -Andreas Speck (UK, WRI) -Vivien Sharples (USA, War Resisters League, Nonviolence Trainer) -Joanne Sheehan (WRI Chair) -Howard Clark (UK/Spain, Research Fellow Centre for Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Coventry University)
	Conscientious Objection - Facilitator: It would be good to have joint facilitation: one from Korea, one from WRI (Sergeiy Sandler, New Profile, Israel)	The US bases movement in the region and beyond - Facilitator: one person from WRI (on “beyond” part)	Other movement examples (Peter D Jones said that he might be able to get Michael Mazgaonkar from India over -- would be a good chance to have a workshop on the present day Gandhian movement)
13:00 ~ 15:00	점 심식사 Lunch time
15:00 ~ 16:30	Workshops: Nonviolent organising			Nonviolence Training continued...
	Working in groups (mixed, ♀♀-only) - Facilitator: Hilal Demir (Turkey, Antimilitarist feminist, Nonviolence Trainer)	Coalition building -Facilitator:	International co-operation and/or regional networks -Facilitator:
16:30 ~ 17:00	휴 식 Coffee break
17:00 ~ 18:30	Session 4: Case studies of Nonviolent campaigns - Facilitator: It would be good to have two case studies, not more. The case studies should be presented so that the main strategy elements can be drawn out -- this is the purpose of this session. It would be good to have one case study of a ♀♀-only or ♀♀-led* campaign.* It would be good to have one case study more on the constructive programme* side of nonviolence -- building our nonviolent alternatives*
19:00 ~ ...	저 녁식사 Dinner time

Day 4 (Wednesday, 29 June): A Peace Movement Strategy for the future

The last day will build on the three previous day, to develop a strategy for the peace movement for the future. It is important that this again will be done in a participatory way.

8:00 ~ 9:30	아 침식사 Breakfast
9:30 ~ 11:00	첫째 시간: 아시아 평화운동의 성과와 도전 Session 1: Asian Peace Movement: Achievements and Challenges - Facilitator: Yongwook Jung (Korea, activist of the standing committee of SPR) 미군기지 반대 운동 Fight against US bases/US hegemony in the region - Kaori (Japan, woman activist from Okinawa) 대량살상무기/핵무기 관련 운동 WMD/nuclear issues (not only North Korea; China has nuclear weapons, and US WMDs are present in the region too) -> nuclear free zone movement - Keiko Nakamura (Japan, activist of Peace Depot) 양심적 거부 운동 Conscientious objection (mainly Korea) - Jungmin Choi (Korea, joint representative of the executive committee) 여성주의 운동 Feminism It is important that the speakers focus on the challenges, and do not just present a success story or events. All speakers should speak for 10-15 minutes, and the debate should draw up a list of challenges faced by the movements. The purpose is also to introduce the international participants to the peace movement activities in the region.
11:00 ~11:30	휴 식 Coffee break
11:30 ~13:00	둘째 시간: 어떻게 도전에 대처할 것인가에 관한 워크샵 Session 2: Workshops on “How to address the challenges”?
	Challenge 1 - Facilitator:	Challenge 2 - Facilitator:	Challenge 3 - Facilitator:	Role of people /movements from outside the region - Facilitator:
13:00 ~ 15:00	점 심식사 Lunch time
15:00 ~ 16:30	Session 3: Presentation of workshop results, and development of ideas for concrete activities in the future - Facilitator: This session will require good facilitation, and might involve buzz groups, or whatever the facilitator thinks is useful for a participatory process.
16:30 ~ 17:00	휴 식 Coffee break
17:00 ~ 18:30	넷째 시간: 종합 평가 Session 4: Evaluation - Facilitator:
19:00 ~ ....	저 녁식사 Dinner time

Programmes & Projects

WRI network WRI event

Countries

China Korea, South Taiwan

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Peace in North-East Asia International Seminar, Korea, 26-29 June 2005

warresisters — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 23:00:00 +0000

01 Jul 2005

Introduction

War Resisters' International, the international network of pacifist organisations with 80 affiliates in 40 countries, founded in 1921, is cooperating with South Korean partner organisations for an international seminar on Peace in North-East Asia, to be held in South Korea in June 2005. The seminar will bring together about 100 peace activists and peace researchers from North-East Asia and all over the world, to discuss the present threats to peace in North-East Asia, and possible peace movement responses, based on War Resisters' International's more than 80 years of experience with nonviolence.

The international seminar can build on the past cooperation between War Resisters' International and Korean organisations, especially KSCO and SPR, with a focus on conscientious objection to military service. This cooperation goes back to 1999, and led to an international conference on conscientious objection to military service in Seoul in 2003. The seminar in 2005 expands the issue, and puts conscientious objection to military service into the broader framework of peace in North-East Asia.

Background

North-East Asia - North and South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan, is a region with a wide range of threats to peace, well beyond the issue of North Korea and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Despite being one of the world's most dynamic economic and political regions, North-East Asian security remains surprisingly dominated by the past. Half a century after the uneasy conclusions to massive conflicts that ripped apart China, Korea, and Japan, real peace in the region remains elusive.

Nearly 100,000 US soldiers are based in Japan and South Korea, with those in Korea on trigger-ready alert for war with the North. The region contains the world's second-most well funded military (Japan), one of its largest arms importers (Taiwan), and over 1.6 million troops facing off amidst escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Legacies of the Cold War continue to shape the world of war and peace in North-East Asia. Primary among them is the US "wagon wheel" system of bilateral alliances. Designed to contain the spread of communism, since the 1990s it has morphed into a strict realpolitik tool to assure no state challenges US supremacy in the region, with faint nods to the growing demands for autonomy and respect in Japan and South Korea.

The Cold War also left North-East Asia with two unfinished civil wars, both of which periodically threaten explosion into massive military conflicts with disturbing regularity. Ever since the US 7th Fleet interposed itself between China and Taiwan in 1950, China has regarded Taiwan as a renegade province and so claims the right to use force if Taiwan ever formally proclaimed its independence from China.

In similar fashion, the armistice ending the Korean War in 1953 dividing the peninsula for the first time in history locked the two sides into a zero-sum struggle over the right to rule a united Korea. As the South leapt ahead of the North during its economic boom in the 1980s and "socialist brotherhood" alliances with first the USSR and then China slowly evaporated, North Korea has come to rely upon belligerent bluster, a million person army, and a nascent nuclear programme to ensure its national security.

Anger with the oppressive US military presence, ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula and between China and Taiwan,and the human costs of Asia's economic boom, are all major obstacles to building a stable, just, equitable peace in North-East Asia. Security structures forged in the early days of the Cold War are inadequate in response to these challenges; new approaches must be sought out.

The militarisation of the societies on North-East Asia goes deep, and is a major factor preventing the recognition of human rights such as conscientious objection to military service, but also the full realisation of equal rights and equal access for women.

Cooperation between War Resisters' International and South Korean groups

The cooperation between War Resisters' International and South Korean groups goes back to 1999, when War Resisters' International was first asked for support by the then American Friends Service Committee's representative in Seoul. From then on, War Res isters' International provided information on the right to conscientious objection, to support the development of a movement for conscientious objection in South Korea.

In 2001, representatives from Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights and MINBYUN Lawyers for a Democratic Society participated in War Resisters' International's seminar "Antimilitarism and feminism in Turkey: practice and ideology" in Siğaçık in Turkey. This marked the beginning of direct cooperation between WRI and South Korean groups.

War Resisters' International first visited South Korea in December 2002, and participated in a workshop on conscientious objection. The visit was also important for the preparation of the first international conference on conscientious objection in Seoul, which took place in March 2003, and was supported by War Resisters' International. The situation of conscientious objectors in South Korea was also the focus of WRI's 2003 Prisoners for Peace Day campaign (1 December), and an intern from Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights supported the production of the campaign materials in the WRI office. In march 2004, WRI, MINBYUN lawyers for a democratic society and KSCO submitted a joint report to the UN Commission for Human Rights[1].

The participation of two South Korean representatives in WRI's international nonviolent action training in Israel in May 2003 (linked to International Conscientious Objectors' Day - 15 May) and in the WRI seminar on Conscientious Objection and Peace in Macedonia in June 2004, and the participation of a WRI representative and nonviolence trainer in the SPR peace camp in Korea in August 2004 strengthened the links between War Resisters' International and South Korean groups.

The cooperation now goes beyond the issue of conscientious objection to military service, and has broadened to general issues of peace and nonviolent action.

Aims of the seminar

The seminar has aims on several levels:

On a broader level, the organisers aim to raise awareness for nonviolent and peaceful alternatives to a military-based concept of "national security" in South Korea and Taiwan. Here, War Resisters' International is well equipped to provide expertise on nonviolent social defence and peaceful resolution of conflict[2], which are so far little known in the region.
On the regional level, the seminar aims to strengthen the links between peace movement organisations in the region, therefore furthering future cooperation and exchange on shared issues and problems, such as the issue of US bases or an increased participation of the region's military forces in conflicts outside the region, such as the deployment of Philippine, Japanese and Korean military in Iraq.
On the international level, the seminar aims to raise awareness for the problems in North-East Asia within the international peace movement, which is especially important regarding a potential escalation of the issue of WMD's in North Korea, which would leave the international peace movement with only little knowledge and partners in the region. In addition, the seminar will also improve the international network of the regional peace groups.

The international seminar

The international seminar will cover a variety of related topics over 3 ½ days, beginning on a Sunday evening, and ending the following Wednesday. It will consist of a mixture of panel discussions (with simultaneous interpretation), small workshops, and nonviolence training session, to explore the issues in a participatory way. In addition, the programme will allow for appropriate time for networking, especially via the provision of a social space.

The topics are:

Day 1: Peace in North East Asia (Opening Panel): The opening panel will introduce the different security threats and peace related issues of the region to the international and regional audience and also introduce concept of non-violent resistance, which WRI has pursued so far, and will contribute to peace movement in this region. For this panel, we aim to get speakers from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and WRI members. The panel will set the framework for the discussion on the following days.
Day 2: Security issues: The concept of “national security” is a common justification for disproportionate military forces in Korea and Taiwan, but also serves as justification for North Korea's WMD programme. On this day, the seminar will look at issues of (national) security, and will develop a vision of security with non-military means, based on the experience and visions of the participants.
Day 3: Nonviolent resistance and nonviolent alternatives: Day 3 takes more time to develop themes previously dealt with on day 2 in the afternoon, and some of those on day 4 in the morning. Building on the last session of the previous day, the concept of Nonviolent Social Defence as a non-military alternative will be introduced. The day also includes a 2-session long Nonviolence Training as a workshop, and will lead to some examples of nonviolent struggle which will be used to draw out crucial elements of nonviolent campaigns.
Day 4: A Peace Movement Strategy for the future: The last day will build on the three previous day, to develop a strategy for the peace movement for the future. It is important that this again will be done in a participatory way.

A detailed prospective agenda can be seen here.

Organisers

War Resisters' International

War Resisters' International was founded in 1921 under the name "Paco". It was and is based on the WRI declaration:

War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war, and to strive for the removal of all causes of war

War Resisters' International exists to promote nonviolent action against the causes of war, and to support and connect people around the world who refuse to take part in war or the preparation of war. On this basis, WRI works for a world without war.

Nonviolence

WRI embraces nonviolence. For some, nonviolence is a way of life. For all of us, it is a form of action that affirms life, speaks out against oppression, and acknowledges the value of each person.

Nonviolence can combine active resistance, including civil disobedience, with dialogue; it can combine non-cooperation - withdrawal of support from a system of oppression - with constructive work to build alternatives.

As a way of engaging in conflict, sometimes nonviolence attempts to bring reconciliation with it: strengthening the social fabric, empowering those at the bottom of society, and including people from different sides in seeking a solution.

No to war

WRI will never endorse any kind of war, whether it is waged by a state, by a "liberation army", or under the auspices of the United Nations, even if it is called a "humanitarian military intervention". Wars, however noble the rhetoric, invariably are used to serve some power-political or economic interest. We know where war leads - to suffering and destruction, to rape and organised crime, to betrayal of values and to new structures of domination.

More information is available on the WRI website at http://wri-irg.org

Myrtle Solomon Memorial Trust

The Myrtle Solomon Memorial Trust is an education trust set up by War Resisters' International to support the charitable work of WRI. The Trust's objective is to promote research into and the extension of knowledge in the field of compulsory military service and the social economic and legal questions effecting such service and in the field of peaceful resolution of conflicts.

More information is available on the Trust's website at http://www.myrtlesolomon.org.uk

Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection

KSCO was launched on 4 February 2002. It is now a coalition of 36 civil and social organisations including SPR, and many supportive individuals. Even before the official launch, it tried to give wider publicity about Conscientious objection to military service as a fundamental human natural right. It also embarked on activities such as legal aid for conscientious objectors, internal/international solidarity, and counselling of young people who are about to join the army. Now it is acting up to its principles by researching, analysing, and developing case studies of Alternative Civilian Services, and projecting and arousing public opinion. The website of KSCO is http://corights.net/.

Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights

SPR organised in May 1998, for struggling against peace & human right-threatening globalisation and militarism, and creating a culture of peace based on difference and solidarity. Now it has 6 staff and 100 supporters, and is operated by staff volunteering with supporters' spontaneous donations. It's focused on the CO movement, a culture of peace, and publicity about the right for peace. The Korean language website is at http://peace.jinbo.net/

World Without War

World Without War (WWW) organized in May 15, 2003. Its former self was a private meeting of Conscientious objectors and supporters called 'People sharing conscience'. It's a practical field for Conscientious objectors and supporters. More information is available on World Without War's Korean language website at http://www.withoutwar.org.

WRI Korea

WRI-Korea is an associated organisation of the War Resisters' International. It is a small group of Korean peace activists craving for a world without military and threats of war.

WRI-Korea was formed in 2003 to bring about radical social change in the heavily militarised Korean peninsula through nonviolent direct action.

WRI Korea has a Korean language website at http://wrikorea.wo.to/.

Linked pages

Draft agenda (English with some Korean)
Practical information: English
Registration form: English (PDF or HTML. The HTML online form also leads to a payment page.)

Notes

[1] wri-irg.org/news/2004/korea04-en.htm
[2] War Resisters' International organised several international seminars on this issue in the past, most recently in Bradford in 1990, and published several books. Several WRI affiliates focus on these issues, such as the German WRI section "Institute for the Peace Work and the Nonviolent Settlement of Conflicts" or the US-based "Resource Center for Nonviolence".

Programmes & Projects

Council

Countries

Taiwan Korea, South China

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Peace in North-East Asia

warresisters — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 23:00:00 +0000

01 Jul 2005

Report from the international seminar in Seoul, 26-29 June 2005

The 2005 WRI annual seminar was entitled “Peace In North-East Asia” and focused on a variety of related topics over 3.5 days. It consisted of a mixture of panel discussions, small workshops and a nonviolence training session. Every participant was provided with a “Peace In North East Asia” seminar book containing the presentations of most of the speakers in both Korean and English language.

Due to the participation of Korean as well as international participants, interpretation (English-Korean/Korean-English) was provided throughout the seminar. Simultaneous interpretation was provided for the panel discussions and interpretation in turn provided in workshops and small group sessions where required.

The aims of the seminar were as follows:

On a broader level: to raise awareness for nonviolent and peaceful alternatives to a military-based concept of “national security” in South Korea and Taiwan.
On the regional level, to strengthen the links between peace movement organisations in the region, therefore furthering future cooperation and exchange on shared issues and problems, such as the issue of US bases.
On the international level, to raise awareness for the problems in North-East Asia within the international peace movement - especially important regarding a potential escalation of the issue of WMD's in North Korea. Also to improve the international network of the regional peace groups.

Day 1:

Sunday 26 June: Peace in North East Asia (Opening Panel)

During the first session, speakers from South Korea (Min Choi), Japan (Yamaguchi Hibiki) and China (US national James Reilly spoke on China and Taiwan) introduced the peace and security related issues in each region. This was an important introduction to the subject and served to put things in context.

The second session featured examples of non-violence as presented by Andreas Speck, Campaigning Worker at WRI and Ellen Elster of the WRI Women’s Working Group who was able to introduce a feminist perspective early on in the seminar.

Day 2:

Monday 27th June: Security Issues

On this day we looked at issues of national security and developed a vision of security with non-military means using participatory techniques.

During session one Sergeiy Sandler of New Profile used his experience in Israel to illustrate the impact a military approach to security has on a society and its values. Elli Kim of South Korea offered a feminist analysis of the issues by discussing how gendered discourses are used in national security.

In session 2, we continued exploring the themes by using workshops to look at different aspects. The workshops held were entitled: North Korean Nuclear Issues; US Bases/Hegemony in the region (which formed part 1 of a 2 part workshop); Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq; Hegemonic demands of China and Japan in the region.

After lunch, session 3 involved further group work with participants discussing “security from a peace perspective” in small groups – one of which focused on a gendered perspective. The purpose of this session was to develop a vision of what would make a secure world from the perspective of participants.

This topic was continued in session 4 when participants reformed as a large group in order to identify common elements and develop together a definition of security from a peace perspective.

Day 3:

Tuesday 28th June: Nonviolent Resistance and non-violent alternatives

Day 3 offered participants the opportunity to develop themes from the previous day and introduced the concept of Nonviolent Social Defence as a non-military alternative. It also offered space for sharing examples of non-violent struggle and included a practical 2-session long Nonviolence Training.

Brian Martin led session 1 with his excellent presentation on Nonviolent Social Defence whilst session 2 used workshops to get to grips with the issues. Aside from the Nonviolence Training, the workshops focused on examples and strategies of non-violent movements: conscientious objection, US bases (part 2) and non-violence in Israel-Palestine.

Session 3 looked at non-violent organising through workshops on working in groups – which had a focus on gendered perspectives; coalition building and international cooperation.

During session 4, participants heard about actual case studies of nonviolent campaigns from Jorgen Johansen of Norway’s University of Tromso Department of Peace Studies and a Korean activist who spoke about the campaign to save Korea’s Chungsun mountain. Jorgen’s enlightening and somewhat amusing presentation showed how a number of different techniques can be used as part of an overall strategy to get an issue or campaign to the highest level of the political agenda. The example of the campaign to save Chungsun mountain also illustrated the way in which different tactics can be used for different circumstances in different areas of the world.

Day 4:

The final day of the seminar built on the previous three days in order to build a peace movement strategy for the future.

Session 1 offered an overview of the achievements and challenges of the Asian peace movement and included presentations on US bases and hegemony in the region, WMD and nuclear issues, conscientious objection and feminism.

Session 2 enabled participants to engage with the issues through workshops on “How to address he challenges?” The workshop topics were: the role of Korean and Japanese activists; the role of people and movements from outside the region; the role of the women’s peace movement and linking local or specific campaigns to international or broader movements.

Session 3 concluded the day’s discussions with an interactive presentation of the workshop results which involved participants moving around the room from one presentation display to the next as representatives of the different groups offered explanations on their results.

The final session of the seminar was reserved for evaluation where participants were given the opportunity to offer feedback on the seminar. Small groups were formed where participants discussed what they liked and disliked about the seminar and also offered suggestions on where improvements could be made. This important aspect of the final day will help WRI to improve the annual seminar for next year and in years to come.

Participant Evaluation

Likes:

There was a high level of interaction between participants and international and Korean participants mixed well.
Many new links were made and a lot of participants will be keeping in contact in the future.
International alliance seems more possible than before the seminar.
The interpretation was of an excellent standard, well organised and provided in every panel discussion, workshop and small group.
The timing of the sessions was very well thought out and it was good to have 2 hours for lunch.
Most people agreed that the food was excellent!
The opening session was an excellent introduction to the issues and gave the context that was required.
The book of seminar presentations was extremely useful.
Sharing stories with participants from all over the world was a highlight.
The space given to feminist/gendered perspectives was worthwhile.
Participants felt that the participatory nature of the seminar was beneficial.
The Buddhist centre where the seminar was held was felt to be a very appropriate choice and a great space to work in.

Dislikes:

There were limitations on time due to interpretation during workshops and small groups.
Some of the speakers stuck to the text in their handouts which made their presentations less interesting. It was felt that the time could have been instead to engage in more in-depth discussion.
There was too much work and not enough social/free time.
The Taiwanese dimension was missing as speakers and participants from Taiwan could not be found.
The last day’s sessions – in particular session 1 – felt too rushed.

Improvements:

Introducing ourselves and our interests at the beginning of the seminar would have been useful.
More was needed on the Korean peace movement.
Workshops should have been longer to make up for the time spent interpreting.
There were limitations in reaching consensus on common solutions.
More recreation time to get to know each other.
Workshops could have been more prepared beforehand.
Plenary facilitators should have been stricter with time limits.
The Korean translation of “international seminar” was felt to be too rigid by some of the Korean participants! An alternative translation could have resolved this.

Concluding Remarks

Overall, the seminar was a resounding success on many levels and participants agreed that they had gained a great deal from it. Many new links were made and plans for future collaboration were laid, including: building on links made between Korean and Japanese activists – particularly on the issue of US bases; pursuing a project to document women’s contribution to conscientious objection as an anthology of women’s stories from around the world and organising for Asian peace activists to attend the 2006 WRI annual seminar – “Globalising Nonviolence” - in Germany next year.

War Resisters’ International, Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection, Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights, World Without War, Civil Network for Peaceful Korea and Women Making Peace would like to thank all our funders for their invaluable contribution to this seminar.

Programmes & Projects

WRI event WRI network

Countries

Taiwan Korea, South China

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Women in the Military

warresisters — Tue, 01 Feb 2000 00:00:00 +0000

01 Feb 2000

The WRI Women's Working Group has had a long standing interest in women's militarization, including the role of women in militaries. This last issue can be a problematic one for feminist pacifists. Pacifists have no interest in encouraging women to join the military; rather, they support anti-militarist work that keep both women and men out of the armed forces. Conservative forces that support a restricted and traditional view of women's place also strongly oppose women in the military. While recognizing women's leadership skills and capabilities, feminist pacifists also reject the argument that increasing women's roles and numbers in militaries is a sign of women's increasing equality with men.

Whether women's increased role in the military is opposed for conservative or radical reasons, it appears to be a lost cause. In Australia, Canada, the People's Republic of China and the USA, women comprise some 10 percent of the military. In some guerrilla movements women were one-third to 40 percent of the armed forces, as in El Salvador an Nicaragua. Women are organizing to fight laws that refuse them combat training. In July 1998 Italian women in the Association of Aspiring Women Soldiers led a protest in front of the Chamber of Deputies, protesting the slow progress of a law to allow Italian women to join the military. In January of this year a high court in Germany ruled in favor of a woman complainant who objected to the law that forbade women serving in combat units.

In the USA feminist organizations such as the Women's Research and Education Institute (1700 18th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20009, USA. Tel. +1 202 328 7070) actively monitors and promotes the rights of women in the military. "Since 1973, when the male draft ended and the All Volunteer Force began, the percentage of women among US military personnel has increased dramatically, from 1.6 percent in 1973, to 8.5 percent in 1980, to 10.8 percent in 1989..." begins a recent Institute report, which notes that 41 percent of all US enlisted women are women of color. The report does note the lack of women in officer ranks, but does not mention a 1990 study that found that two out of three military women surveyed said that they had been sexually harassed ("Sexual Harassment: Research and Resources: A Report-in-Progress," by The National Council for Research on Women, November 1991). Nor did the report mention US Department of Defense statistics that show women are three times as likely as men to be discharged from the military for homosexuality.

The military is changing: United Nations armed forces are now given training in peacekeeping. How will this changing role affect women both inside and outside the military? If military service becomes increasingly portrayed as a form of community service or humanitarian aid, will more women be attracted to military service? Do such roles reinforce or challenge traditional stereotypes of women? In countries where minority women find secure employment in the military, what is the peace movement doing about discrimination in the civilian sector?

The WRI Women's Working Group encourages reflection on these and other issues, and asks readers to send in their comments, news, and statistics on women in the military.

Programmes & Projects

Women's WG

Countries

China Australia Canada United States of America

Theme

gender and militarism

China

USA approves biggest arms sale to Taiwan in decades

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SIPRI data shows world military expenditure in 2018 grew to $1.8 trillion

The USA and China lead increase in world military expenditure

Three decades of growth in military spending in Asia and Oceania

Increases in Central and East European countries

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Recruitment elsewhere

China

India

Poverty draft

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China: military training for students?

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Chinese People's Liberation Army adds psychological test to recruitment process

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China: Armed Forces to start recruiting

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Peace in North-East Asia

Day 1 (Sunday, 26 June): Peace in North East Asia (Opening Panel)

등록 Registration of participants

첫째 시간: 안전과 평화를 위협하는 쟁점들 (각국의 사례발표)Session 1:The Issues Threatening Security and Peace (cases of each country)

둘째 시간: 비폭력과 안보에 대한 소개Session 2: Examples of Nonviolence

Day 2: Security Issues

첫째 시간: 국가안보에 대한 정당화와 그 영향Session 1: National Security

Session 2: Workshops on different aspects

Session 3: Small groups: Vision exercise on “What is security from a peace perspective”?

Session 4: Define Security from a Peace Perspective

Day 3: Nonviolent resistance and nonviolent alternatives

첫째 시간: 비군사적 대안으로서의 비폭력 사회적 방어Session 1: Nonviolent Social Defence as a non-military alternative

둘째 시간: 다양한 부문들에 관한 워크샵Session 2: Workshops on different aspects

Session 4: Case studies of Nonviolent campaigns

Day 4 (Wednesday, 29 June): A Peace Movement Strategy for the future

첫째 시간: 아시아 평화운동의 성과와 도전Session 1: Asian Peace Movement: Achievements and Challenges

둘째 시간: 어떻게 도전에 대처할 것인가에 관한 워크샵Session 2: Workshops on “How to address the challenges”?

Session 3: Presentation of workshop results, and development of ideas for concrete activities in the future

넷째 시간: 종합 평가Session 4: Evaluation

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Peace in North-East Asia International Seminar, Korea, 26-29 June 2005

Introduction

Background

Cooperation between War Resisters' International and South Korean groups

Aims of the seminar

The international seminar

Organisers

War Resisters' International

Nonviolence

No to war

Myrtle Solomon Memorial Trust

Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection

Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights

World Without War

WRI Korea

Linked pages

Notes

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Peace in North-East Asia

Report from the international seminar in Seoul, 26-29 June 2005

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Participant Evaluation

Concluding Remarks

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Women in the Military

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첫째 시간: 안전과 평화를 위협하는 쟁점들 (각국의 사례발표)
Session 1:The Issues Threatening Security and Peace (cases of each country)

둘째 시간: 비폭력과 안보에 대한 소개
Session 2: Examples of Nonviolence

첫째 시간: 국가안보에 대한 정당화와 그 영향
Session 1: National Security

첫째 시간: 비군사적 대안으로서의 비폭력 사회적 방어
Session 1: Nonviolent Social Defence as a non-military alternative

둘째 시간: 다양한 부문들에 관한 워크샵
Session 2: Workshops on different aspects

첫째 시간: 아시아 평화운동의 성과와 도전
Session 1: Asian Peace Movement: Achievements and Challenges

둘째 시간: 어떻게 도전에 대처할 것인가에 관한 워크샵
Session 2: Workshops on “How to address the challenges”?

넷째 시간: 종합 평가
Session 4: Evaluation