Why an Asia-Pacific Freeze?

The Pacific Freeze is a campaign to freeze and then reduce the military spending of the United States, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea. These countries, which are participating in the Six Party Talks, account for more than 65% of global military spending. We urgently need to address the dangerous escalation in global military spending, which has increased 45% over the last decade. We are wasting precious resources on preparing for war when the world faces a dire economic crisis and the planet faces a catastrophic climate crisis. We believe the place to begin is with the major military spenders, particularly the United States. We believe the first step is a Pacific Freeze.

The campaign is coordinated by the Institute for Policy Studies on behalf of peace activists and scholars in the above countries. We want the issue of military spending included in the regional discussions, but we also think that the six governments won't act without public pressure. We urge you to read our Call to Action and become an individual signatory.

Asian Perspective, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Winter 2009)

John Feffer from the Institute for Policy Studies was the guest editor for a special issue of Asian Perspective, a peer-reviewed social sciences journal of world and comparative politics. The issue focused on the arms race in Northeast Asia. Featured articles include:

  • “Introduction: An Arms Race in Northeast Asia?” – By: John Feffer
  • “An Emerging Trend in East Asia: Military Budget Increases and Their Impact” – By: Zhu Feng
  • “China’s Military Spending: Soft Rise or Hard Threat?” – By: Sean Chen and John Feffer
  • “Military Spending and the Arms Race on the Korean Peninsula” – By: Chung-In Moon and Sangkeun Lee
  • “Allied to Race? The U.S.-Korea Alliance and Arms Race” – By: Jae-Jung Suh
  • “Japan’s Military Spending at a Crossroads” – By: Akira Kawasaki
  • “Bucks for the Bang: North Korea’s Nuclear Program and Northeast Asian Military Spending” – By: Wade Huntley

Read more...

Military Spending

featuredimage How Transparent is the PLA?

(June 15, 2010) Chinese officials often cite increased transparency as a reason others should not be alarmed ...

featuredimage U.S. to Aid South Korea With Naval Defense Plan

(May 30, 2010) WASHINGTON — Surprised by how easily a South Korean warship was sunk by what an international investigation ...

featuredimage Taiwan Will Not Enter Arms Race With China: Ma

(May 19, 2010) TAIPEI, Taiwan-- Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday the island will not engage in an arms race ...

featuredimage Lee Directs 3 Trillion Won Rise in Arms Buying

Seoul seeking to counter NK’s asymmetrical warfare (May 16, 2010) Seoul, KOREA-- President Lee Myung-bak has directed an increase in expenditure ...

featuredimage The Next Arms Race

…will be undersea, say Toshi Yoshihara and James R. Holmes, and will have big political repercussions for the entire Asia-Pacific ...

North Korea Not Eager to Return to Six-Party Talks

(February 12, 2010) BEIJING– North Korea is not eager to return to six-party talks but has not rejected the idea, the U.N.’s top political official said on Friday following a trip to the reclusive country. “Their attitude right now, certainly they’re not happy with sanctions. They’re certainly not eager, not ruling out, but not eager [...]

Naoto Kan is Elected Prime Minister in Japan

(June 4, 2010) TOKYO— Naoto Kan, a plain-spoken finance minister with activist roots, was elected prime minister on Friday, making him the fifth Japanese leader in four years. Mr. Kan, 63, won a vote in the lower house of Parliament and will now go through the formality of being appointed by Emperor Akihito. Earlier Friday, [...]

Russia and U.S. Sign Nuclear Arms Reduction Pact

(April 8, 2010) PRAGUE— The United States and Russia opened what they called a new era in their tumultuous relationship on Thursday as they signed an arms control treaty and presented a largely united front against Iran’s nuclear program, marking a sharp change since they broke over the Georgia war two years ago. In a [...]

Leaders Gather for Nuclear Talks as New Threat is Seen

(April 11, 2010) WASHINGTON— Three months ago, American intelligence officials examining satellite photographs of Pakistani nuclear facilities saw the first wisps of steam from the cooling towers of a new nuclear reactor. It was one of three plants being constructed to make fuel for a second generation of nuclear arms. The message of those photos [...]

Issue 2 – August 2009 (English)

The last several months have been disastrous for the peace and stability of Northeast Asia. North Korea tested a rocket in April, conducted its second nuclear test in May, and has declared that it will no longer participate in the Six Party Talks. The Obama administration initially paid little attention to North Korea. Then the administration made its offer to talk conditional on Pyongyang not launching its April rocket, which was a non-starter. Subsequently, the administration has pushed the same containment policy as the Bush years: financial sanctions and naval interdiction. [read more]

(Interview) Military Spending in the Asia-Pacific Region

Over the last decade global military spendng has increased by 45 percent and the United States, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea account for more than 65 percent of it. [read more]

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