Engaging China’s new foreign policy in the South Pacific

China’s declared foreign policy of ‘non-interference’ is contradicted by its actions in recent times. Beyond activities in the East and South China Seas, the involvement of China in negotiations on the Korean Peninsula, the evacuation of Chinese citizens from various crises, and the deployment of Chinese combat troops to peacekeeping missions in Africa have indicated China’s growing interests in the shape of world affairs, coinciding with a growing economic and military capacity to influence them. Much attention has been given to the potential consequences of great-power competition between the USA and China, but little focus has been given to the impact these trends may have in the outlying regions of Chinese foreign policy. One such place is Melanesia in the South Pacific—a subregion where a small influence from a Chinese perspective can have a significant impact on Pacific Island Countries. This article postulates that, over time, there is potential for the consequences of Chinese interests to lead to accidental friction, and suggests that this risk can be mitigated through increased cooperation.     

潮湿环境下土遗址加固保护材料筛选研究——以福建昙石山遗址为例

长期以来,由于土遗址保存环境的复杂性和特殊性,潮湿环境下的土遗址保护一直是困扰我国文物保护和考古界的难点,至今尚没有成熟的规范可以参考.福建省昙石山遗址作为我国东南沿海地区典型潮湿环境下的土遗址,近年来在遗址加固保护过程中,通过大量室内和现场试验,在适用材料的筛选研究等方面取得了一定经验和成效,是对我国潮湿环境下土遗址保护工作的一次有益尝试和探索.     

The role of the Italian Central Institute of Restoration in the field of underwater archaeology

In 1987, given the importance and complexity of the correct recovery and conservation procedures for underwater archaeological finds, an Underwater Archaeological Operations Unit was set up within the Italian Central Institute for Restoration. This Unit is made up of archaeologists, conservators, biologists and chemists, all of whom are underwater experts. It provides consultancy services and scientific and technical assistance for problems relating to the recovery, conservation, protection, and restoration of underwater archaeological heritage at the request of the Archaeological Superintendents. Great attention is paid to the professional training of underwater conservators. Specialized courses in the conservation of materials of underwater provenance are organized as part of its programme. This paper illustrates some of the main initiatives both in the restoration of archaeological objects and in training, in which the Institute has been involved, since the Underwater Unit was created.     

Getting Out of Belize: Britain’s Intractable Military Exit from Central America

With scant material interests at stake, and protection exacting a toll on military resources, Britain wanted out of Belize, its sole dependency in Central America. This desire became more pronounced by the 1970s as successive British governments sought to eliminate residual out-of-Europe political and military commitments. Exiting Belize, however, proved a three-decade challenge for Britain. Exploiting recently declassified British government documents, this article explains why leaving proved so intractable. The article explains how Guatemala’s territorial claim—and its threat to realise this claim by means of force—proved the main obstacle to Britain’s military exit. Repeated attempts in the 1970s towards a negotiated settlement with Guatemala failed. Instead the decade was marked by moments of acute tension. Unable to discount the possibility of a Guatemalan attack, Britain felt compelled to reinforce its military presence in the country at a time when it was trying to exit. Moreover, Britain had to offer continued protection as a necessary condition for Belize to proceed to independence in 1981. This post-independence defence guarantee was intended as a short-term measure, and Britain remained committed to ending its Belize commitment at the earliest opportunity. Yet British protection ended only in 1994. This article unpacks the political and military factors that best account for this protracted withdrawal.     

试论20世纪60-70年代的河北环境保护

20世纪 6 0— 70年代 ,随着资源开发的迅速扩大和工业化的快速发展 ,河北省的环境破坏不断加重 ,环境污染开始产生并呈扩展之势。由于缺乏环境意识和缺乏环境保护科学知识 ,河北省的生态环境处于边恢复、边保护、边破坏的状况。环境、生态平衡等问题日益突出。环境污染和区域性干化加剧成为河北省区域性生态环境恶化的两大突出问题 ,而且直接影响和制约着河北经济发展和人民生活、生存条件。本文试对这一时期河北环境保护的历史进行梳理和探讨 ,总结其得失与经验教训。     

清代陕西的农业开发与生态环境的破坏

清代陕西地区,在人口日益增长的压力之下,由于不顾后果的过度垦殖,森林、草原等天然植被遭到严重破坏,水土流失严重,并进而导致了干旱和水涝等自然灾害的日益频繁,耕地面积也随之减少。所以,尽管有广大农民的勤奋开发,农业生产也曾一度繁荣,但由于违反了自然规律,终难逃脱衰落的命运。     

周恩来与中国环境保护工作的起步

我国的环境保护工作始于20世纪70年代,由于长期以来,人们对环境保护的认识不够,导致生态环境的破坏和环境污染的加重。周恩来最先认识到环境保护问题的重要性,在他的努力下,中国派团参加了第一次世界环境大会。这次会议使代表团成员深刻认识到了环境保护问题的必要性。在周恩来的推动下,1973年召开了第一次全国环境保护会议,随着《关于保护和改善环境的若干规定》的出台实施,我国的环境保护工作开始步入正轨。     

论西部民族地区的环境政策

环境政策是西部民族地区环境保护的基石。西部民族地区现行的环境政策对保护西部民族地区环境,促进社会经济的发展起到了一定的作用。但不论从政策覆盖面、政策的深度,还是政策的配合和执行政策后所产生的效应来看,均存在许多不足。为了能最充分地发挥环境政策效应,本文设计了环境政策的基本框架,并提出了分类环境政策设计的思路。