China's unexpected events and international cooperation

Responding to emergencies has become a new driving force and new theme for international cooperation

According to experts of the World Health Organization, only in the past century, the total loss of property caused by serious accidents has increased by a total of 15 times, and the number of casualties between the 1970s and the 1990s has quadrupled. The spillover effect of major and extraordinary emergencies underscores the necessity and urgency of strengthening international cooperation. It has become a new driving force and new theme in current international cooperation. At the 42nd session of the General Assembly in December 1987, the United Nations designated the 1990s as the “International Decade for Disaster Reduction,” and adopted “relying on international coordinated action to substantially reduce the losses caused by natural disasters worldwide, especially in developing countries. "The resolution. In May 1994, the mid-term review meeting of the International Decade for Disaster Reduction hosted by the United Nations adopted the "Yokohama Strategy and Action Plan for a Safer World", emphasizing the importance of strengthening international cooperation in disaster management. In 1999, the United Nations Economic and Social Council adopted resolution E/1999/L.44, calling on the world to “continue disaster prevention and reduction and risk management by integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development”. The United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction, convened in 2005, emphasized the need for continued international and regional dialogue and discussion in order to build confidence, unite and work to improve early warning systems and reduce disasters. The 2005 report of the UN Secretariat pointed out in particular that the risk management strategies of countries and regions in the world must take into account the increasingly serious cross-border and cross-regional consequences caused by the risks of major and extraordinary emergencies.

The European Union regards coping with major emergencies as an important issue in international cooperation. Its predecessor, the European Community, established the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) in 1992. In February 2010, it was renamed the General Directorate of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Defence and was responsible for the early warning, monitoring, and emergency response of major emergency events in the European Union. Responsive to coordination, information sharing, personnel training, etc., and provide humanitarian assistance to victims of serious and unexpected incidents. In 2003, the European Union established the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS), which is responsible for mobilizing and coordinating emergency support and rescue efforts of EU Member States and neighboring countries. Its permanent body, the Monitoring and Information Center (MIC) mechanism, It can ensure continuous information exchange, sharing, and judgment. It can quickly provide support and services for experts, emergency rescue organizations, etc. It can also ensure continuous response 24 hours a day. At present, the EU has established the E-Risk system, which is based on satellite broadband transmission technology and is used as an emergency linkage system to support disaster management and can support floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, nuclear leaks and terrorist incidents. Emergency response to serious emergencies. In addition, the resolution on the establishment of a common framework for disaster prevention within the European Union adopted by the EU Council on November 30, 2009 emphasizes the identification and analysis of disasters and risks, impact analysis, risk assessment and risk matrix, scenario development, risk management methods, and regular Inspection is a common framework for the prevention of major emergency events in the European Union and a major component of the emergency prevention policies of member governments. After the Wenchuan Earthquake, the EU also regarded the risk management of major and extraordinary emergencies as a priority for cooperation with developing countries. In 2010, the EU supported cooperation among African, ASEAN, Chinese and other international organizations and countries, including responding to major and extraordinary emergencies. Staff training, international exchanges, case studies, etc.

The Asian region is an area where major and extraordinary emergencies have been concentrated, and regional cooperation in related areas has continued to increase. According to statistics from Swiss Re, from 2001 to 2010, the number of disaster victims in the Asian region alone exceeds 85% of the world's total, and the average number of disasters is about 52% of the world's total. After the Indian Ocean tsunami, ASEAN countries became more aware of the urgency of strengthening international cooperation in response to major and unexpected incidents. ASEAN countries signed the ASEAN Disaster Management and Emergency Response Agreement in Vientiane, Laos in July 2005 to promote member countries. Established the working procedures for domestic disaster emergency management standards and defined the purpose, scope, and cooperation principles of disaster management cooperation. In the 2006 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Conference Chairman’s Statement, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, and China voluntarily assumed In the same year, the ARF passed the “Declaration on Disaster Management and Emergency Response” and established the main principles of emergency cooperation. Each member state promised to take emergency prevention, emergency response and assistance, and capacity building as the three major directions. . In the Wenchuan earthquake, there were 8 international rescue teams. This is the first time that the Chinese government has accepted an international rescue team. In the “3-11” earthquake in Japan, 163 countries, regions, and 43 agencies provided assistance. The Japanese government accepted rescue teams from 28 countries, regions and agencies and received donations from 92 countries and regions. In May 2011, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea held the fourth China-Japan-South Korea Summit. After the meeting, the "Declaration of the Fourth China, Japan and South Korea Leaders Meeting," the leaders of China, Japan and the ROK unanimously considered that they have occurred in one country. The disaster not only brings the same pain to the country but also to the other two countries; the three countries are willing to do their utmost to cooperate and strengthen disaster prevention and relief capabilities, and strengthen the aid system at the time of the disaster.

At present, the increasing international risks of major and extraordinary incidents pose serious challenges to world peace and development. At the same time, due to the joint response to major and extraordinary emergencies and the common interests of the people of all countries, it is easier to win the goodwill and recognition of the recipient countries, expand their voice and dominance in international affairs, and find a point of international cooperation. It has become an important channel and method for the United States, the European Union, Japan and other countries and international organizations to shape a good image, improve foreign relations, and exert international and regional influence. For China, actively participating in major international rescue activities and strengthening international cooperation in emergency management in related fields are conducive to more effectively protecting China’s increasingly extensive overseas interests, and are conducive to displaying the international image of a responsible big country and helping to create peace. Stability, cooperation and win-win international environment.

Sudden spillover effect highlights

In recent years, China and the surrounding regions have successively experienced major tsunami such as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Wenchuan Earthquake, the tropical Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the Japan 3-11 earthquake (also known as the Great East Japan Earthquake), and the Great Flood in Bangkok. The incident caused a great number of casualties and huge losses of property. Taking the “3舐11” earthquake as an example, according to the statistics of the Cabinet Office of Japan, as of the end of October 2011, 19,952 people were killed or disappeared during the earthquake, 5940 were injured, and 124,000 people still lived in temporary resettlement sites. All were destroyed. With 118,480 buildings, 179,704 households were half destroyed, and the economic loss was about 1,690 billion yen. In addition, in October 2011, due to the direct impact of the Bangkok flood, Japanese companies such as Toyota, Nikon, Toshiba, and many other parts and assembly plants in Thailand stopped production and reduced production, resulting in a decline in the production capacity of related major industrial products. Japan’s economy has worsened. In 2011, Japan’s trade balance showed a deficit of 2,292.7 billion yen. This is the first time Japan has experienced a trade deficit since 1980.

It should be noted that in recent years, major and extraordinary emergencies have had greater impact and impact on other countries and regions in the areas of economy and society, ecological environment, and international relations. After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and other countries and regions successively carried out environmental radiation monitoring and evaluation, and conducted safety inspections of the nuclear power facilities in the region. The German government even announced that it will be before 2022. Gradually complete the shutdown of nuclear power plants and become the first major industrial country to shut down all nuclear power plants. The evaluation report released recently by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute believes that the core of Unit 1 of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant has been melted down and will have an uncertain impact on the marine ecology of the surrounding area. In addition, the Japanese government did not release the nuclear accident information at the first time. The international community has generally questioned the transparency and credibility of the Japanese government. Western countries including the United States have asked their Japanese citizens to evacuate to areas farther than the Japanese government requires. . Many countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, have also taken measures such as radiation inspections of ships entering Japan’s ports by Japan and restrictions or prohibitions on Japanese foods in related areas. In addition, it also caused a certain degree of social panic in the surrounding countries and regions within a short period of time. For example, in some parts of China, there was a "salt buying event." This article is organized by China Rescue Equipment Network.