Non-Traditional Security Studies And China

It is not until the tragedy of "9.11" in the U.S. and the outbreak of SARS in China and some other Asian countries (and areas) that nontraditional security issues have emerged as increasingly eminent new threats. A series of concepts of international security and national security have undertaken noticeable changes. The meaning and extension of security, the source of security threat, and the object of security as well as the means of defending security all require substantial theoretical modifications. The current study attempts to explore the new theoretical foundation of this important issue, and consequently, makes recommendations for China to refine and improve its security strategy based upon the theory of nontraditional security.The so-called nontraditional security is the threat that non-state actor imposes upon the survival, development, personal security of citizens, social stability of sovereign state(s) with non-military means. The nontraditional security has the following characteristics:(1) AsymmetryCompared with traditional security, the subject and the origin of nontraditional security threat are usually concealed and unknown. The breakout of nontraditional security threat is usually of sudden catastrophe. The overall capacity of the subject of nontraditional security is not comparable with that of traditional security. However, on particular occasion, the impacts of nontraditional security threat can cause severe destruction on certain part of the society. Their damages are not easily remedied by traditional security conducts. The asymmetry of nontraditional security threat poses a stern challenge to traditional security.(2) MultiformityNontraditional Security has multiple aspects in security area, security subject and security administrative measurement. The multiformity of nontraditional security has made it comprehensive and interdependent. The various aspects of nontraditional security are correlated and mutually dependent. An outbreak in one area could cause crisis in other areas, and the devastating effect could be manifested and aggravated. Therefore, to prevent and to resolve nontraditional security threat relies upon various comprehensive measures. It is futile to depend upon or to overemphasize on a singlemechanism.(3) SocializationMany nontraditional security issues are rooted from domestic social structures of certain countries. The primary threats are not geared toward the external security of sovereign states, but rather the survival and security of individuals and communities inside certain nations, and subsequently causing acute social destruction. When nontraditional security threat spills over the national boundary, the direct victims are still those individuals and communities inside a foreign nation, thus indirectly threatening the national security of the affected country. So nontraditional security is a direct reflection of the social security problems in international politics, meanwhile, it is an indirect manifestation of the security relationships between nations.(4) MultinationalThe origin and impact of nontraditional security threat are transnational. They usually affect the politics, economics, social livelihood and natural environment of several countries. The boundaries among national security, international security and global security are therefore intersected and blurred. It is essential for different nations to jointly warn against, prevent, cope with, and contain nontraditional security threat.Nontraditional security has intrinsic relationship with traditional security. First of all, the meaning and extension of the concept of nontraditional security are derived from the extension of the concept of traditional security. They provide modification and complement to the concept of traditional security. Secondly, nontraditional security issues and traditional security issues are interrelated. Under certain circumstances, they are interchangeable. The escalation of nontraditional security issues could lead to conflicts between nations and regional warfare. Some big countries may also use nontraditional security issues as disguises to achieve their own strategic goals of traditional security. Thirdly, because of the interchangeability between nontraditional security issues and traditional security issues, it is necessary to build up a comprehensive security safeguard system, and to employ all means and tools that are designed for resolving traditional security threat to cope with nontraditional security threat.