Country & Territory Reports - Landmine Action

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44 china Yunnan, both bordering Vietnam, finding 359 survivors in three counties of Guangxi and 5,310 total victims (1,499 deaths, 3,811 injuries) in Wenshan County, Yunnan. 370 Casualties still occur in Yunnan, although Chinese officials claim that “no person or livestock [has been] killed or wounded by mines in the cleared areas”. 371 In the 2001 Landmine Monitor survey, the majority of victims interviewed were young male farmers. Three were soldiers on active duty. Of 200 victims treated at the CDPF’s Guangxi Prosthesis Centre in 2000, only six were women. Ethnic minority groups were over-represented, as these groups live in mountainous areas in close proximity to the border. 372 It is not known to what extent MOTAPM and ERW may have contributed to these casualties. Data on casualties from other affected areas, and from 1939-45 War ordnance, is not available. The danger to civilians from mines along China’s borders with India and Russia is reportedly minimal due to the sparsely populated, mountainous terrain. 373 Three incidents involving abandoned Japanese chemical weapons occurred in north-eastern China (Manchuria) in 2003-04: a 75mm mustard gas shell injured two children in Dunhua, Jilin, in July 2004, and poison gas leaking from storage drums in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, killed one construction worker and injured 43 others in August 2003. 374 The Japanese Government expressed sympathy and investigated the incidents. 375 Little specific information is available on social and economic impacts of ERW or MOTAPM. The Chinese Government notes that “unexploded ordnance left over from World War II … pos[es] serious threats to the lives and property of local civilians”. 376 Mine or ERW survivors interviewed by Landmine Monitor and the CDPF report that their capacity to work has been drastically reduced because of their injuries and many had to abandon their previous occupations. Their inability to work and earn an income is the major concern for the majority of these survivors. 377 Chinese officials stress the positive role that demining around the Vietnamese border has played in economic development and poverty reduction. Clearance operations resulted in the opening of more than 290 border gates, facilitating trade 378 and other movements of goods and people between the countries. Unlike in neighbouring Vietnam and Laos, there is no information regarding a scrap metal or explosives industry in mine and ERW-affected areas. erw and motapm – global survey 2003–2004 Efforts to address these problems There is little international or non-governmental involvement in mine action. Clearance is done solely by the PLA. Other organizations involved in survivor assistance include CDPF, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Post-War Recovery Foundation, 379 International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Cross Society. 380 Chinese officials have stated that the Government “attaches great importance to mine victim assistance. Over the past years, the central and local governments have made relentless efforts to assist people affected by the mine problem, including formulating and implementing victim assistance plans, appropriating special funds to help mine victims install artificial limbs, providing medical assistance and daily life relief, and improving local social and economic infrastructure, etc. As a result of these efforts, the living conditions of mine victims have been significantly improved. However, due to the tough natural conditions, the fragile ecological environments and the generally low level of economic development in the local areas, victim assistance remains an arduous task for the government and the society.” 381 Legislation China is a party to the CCW and all of its protocols to date, including the Amended Protocol II on landmines, which it joined in November 1998. 382 In China’s view, “the landmine issue involves both humanitarian concerns and legitimate military need of sovereign states. These two aspects should be addressed in a balanced way, without ignoring either one.” 383 For China, Amended Protocol II “strikes the right balance between the humanitarian concerns and sovereign states’ need for self-defense”. 384 China has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty, although it says it endorses the humanitarian objectives of the treaty and sent an observer delegation to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in September 2003. China views the prohibition of mines as admirable, but considers clearing those already in the ground as “a more pressing task”. China’s defense policy reportedly rules out the use of landmines by its troops abroad. 385 In a faxed letter, China’s Department of Arms Control and Disarmament stated that the information contained in Landmine Action’s 2003 ERW Global Survey is “basically objective and correct”. 386
352 “Japanese chemical weapon injures children in China”, Japan Times, 28 July 2004, at http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgibin/getarticle.pl5?nn20040728a4.htm. 353 Communication from Zhao Li, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 August 2004; no further details on biological munitions were provided. 354 Statement by Ambassador Sha Zukang, Head of the Chinese Delegation to the 2nd CCW Review Conference, 11 December 2001, http://www.chinaun.ch/eng/cjjk/cjthsm/t85219.htm. 355 Sr. Col. Guo Shoumin, “Chinese Humanitarian [sic] Demining Equipments And Techniques”, paper presented at the Humanitarian Mine/UXO Clearance Technology and Cooperation Workshop, Kunming, China, 26-28 April 2004. 356 Human Rights Watch, Fact Sheet: Types and Manufacturers of Remotely Delivered Anti-Vehicle Mines (December 2001), p. 2. 357 “Types of Landmines Found in China”, http://www.peace.internode.on.net/landmines/land_mines/whah_land_mines/wm_index.html. 358 Human Rights Watch, Antivehicle Mines with Sensitive Fuzes or Antihandling Devices (25 February 2002), p. 15. 359 Landmine Monitor 1999, pp. 460-1. Later editions of Landmine Monitor repeat the 10 million figure without a breakdown by type of mine. The original Landmine Monitor 1999 makes reference to a UN Demining Database Country Report. The 2003 edition refers to the 1994 & 1998 Hidden Killers reports. 360 “ICRC and Chinese Red Cross: joint centre fits limbs for mine victims”, http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/5X8BUH. The source of this figure is unknown, as is the precise area it refers to. ICRC officials did not respond to questions for clarification. 361 “China’s Achievements and Experience in Postwar Demining,” statement by the Chinese delegate at the Southeast Asia Regional Technical Workshop for Humanitarian Demining Experts, Bangkok, 4 March 2002, http://maic.jmu.edu/conference/SEAsiaWorkshop/Day per cent201/China.htm; 2000 Defense White Paper, http://www1.china.org.cn/e-white/2000/20-7.htm#d. The figure of 32,000 ERW cited in the 2003 ERW Global Survey (p. 38) and in Landmine Monitor is in error and should be corrected to 320,000. 362 2002 Defense White Paper, http://www1.china.org.cn/e-white/20021209/VII.htm#5; “Statement of the Chinese Delegation at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention”, Bangkok, 19 September 2003; Communication from Zhao Li, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 August 2004. 363 Comparing these statements with the Chinese original of the 2002 Article 13 report (p. 7), the word “basically” is a translation of the Chinese jiben (“fundamental, essential”). A better English rendering in this case might be “mostly”. Using “basically” might create the incorrect impression, consciously or not on the part of the speakers, that the mine/ERW problem on the Vietnamese border is entirely solved. It is not. 364 2002 Article 13 report (in Chinese), p. 7, and 2003 Article 13 report, p. 5. The locations given are Fangcheng, Ningming, Pingxiang, Longzhou, and Jingxi in Guangxi province (plus three others not listed), and Wenshan County and the Honghe (Red River) Autonomous Zone in Yunnan. 365 Landmine Monitor 2001, p. 531; Landmine Monitor 2002, p. 639; Landmine Monitor 2003, p. 573. 366 Sr. Col. Guo Shoumin, “Chinese Humanitarian Demining Equipments And Techniques”, paper presented at the Humanitarian Mine/UXO Clearance Technology and Cooperation Workshop, Kunming, China, 26-28 April 2004. 367 2002 Defense White Paper, Appendix V. http://www1.china.org.cn/e-white/20021209/VII.htm#5. 368 Communication from Yeshua Moser-Puansuwan, Nonviolence International, Bangkok, 29 July 2004. 369 Draft version of Landmine Monitor 2004 provided to Global Survey researcher, May 2004. 370 Landmine Monitor 2001, pp. 530-1. 371 Sr. Col. Guo Shoumin, “Chinese Humanitarian Demining Equipments And Techniques”, paper presented at the Humanitarian Mine/UXO Clearance Technology and Cooperation Workshop, Kunming, China, 26-28 April 2004. 372 Landmine Monitor 2001, p. 531. 373 Landmine Monitor 2001, p. 529. 374 “Japanese chemical weapon injures children in China”, Japan Times, 28 July 2004, at http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgibin/getarticle.pl5?nn20040728a4.htm. 375 Japanese Foreign Ministry website, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2003/8/0815-4.html and http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2003/8/0822-2.html. 376 Statement by Ambassador Sha Zukang, Head of the Chinese Delegation to the 2nd CCW Review Conference, 11 December 2001, http://www.chinaun.ch/eng/cjjk/cjthsm/t85219.htm; “China’s Position on the Issue of Explosive Remnant of War”, working paper, 26 September 2001, http://www.china-un.ch/eng/cjjk/cjthsm/t85207.htm. 377 Landmine Monitor 2001, p. 531. 378 Sr. Col. Guo Shoumin, “Chinese Humanitarian Demining Equipments And Techniques”, paper presented at the Humanitarian Mine/UXO Clearance Technology and Cooperation Workshop, Kunming, China, 26-28 April 2004; “China’s Achievements and Experience in Postwar Demining”, statement by the Chinese delegate at the Southeast Asia Regional Technical Workshop for Humanitarian Demining Experts, Bangkok, 4 March 2002, http://maic.jmu.edu/conference/SEAsiaWorkshop/Day per cent201/China.htm. Large quantities of Chinese goods are also smuggled across the border to Vietnam, with documented human trafficking in the opposite direction. 379 Landmine Monitor 2003, pp. 574-5; Landmine Monitor 2001, pp. 531-3. 380 “ICRC and Chinese Red Cross: joint centre fits limbs for mine victims”, http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/5X8BUH. 381 Communication from Zhao Li, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 August 2004. 382 http://disarmament.un.org:8080/TreatyStatus.nsf/. China signed with the reservation that Amended Protocol’s restrictions should not apply to anti-vehicle mines with antihandling devices. 383 “Landmine Issues,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs position paper (30 June 2004), http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/jks/kjlc/cgjkwt/dlwt/t141332.htm. 384 “Statement of the Chinese Delegation at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention”, Bangkok, 19 September 2003. 385 “Statement of the Chinese Delegation at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention”, Bangkok, 19 September 2003. 386 Communication from Zhao Li, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 August 2004. erw and motapm – global survey 2003–2004 china 45
Page 1 and 2: Explosive remnants of war and mines
Page 3 and 4: Contents List of common acronyms Fo
Page 5 and 6: Foreword The last decade has seen s
Page 7 and 8: have been subject to significant ex
Page 9 and 10: Controlling the impact of ERW - ‘
Page 11 and 12: ■ Men may consistently be underta
Page 13 and 14: around 95 per cent of IEDs in Iraq
Page 15 and 16: ■ In Kenya in 2003, possible MOTA
Page 17 and 18: However, in June 2004, it was repor
Page 19 and 20: albania 17 34 “Afghan drivers com
Page 21 and 22: problem. After the Kosovo crisis in
Page 23 and 24: Angola Background The 30 years of w
Page 25 and 26: The impact of ERW seems significant
Page 27 and 28: affected by ordnance and munitions
Page 29 and 30: Belarus Background Belarus is affec
Page 31 and 32: Bosnia and Herzegovina Background T
Page 33 and 34: Herzegovina is a State Party to the
Page 35 and 36: undertaken with a local partner, th
Page 37 and 38: to prevent children from finding th
Page 39 and 40: Chad Background Chad’s ERW proble
Page 41 and 42: Chechnya Background Chechnya is an
Page 43 and 44: Chile Background Chile used AP and
Page 45: China Background Chinese territory
Page 49 and 50: other IEDs have been found througho
Page 51 and 52: Official statistics on the ERW/mine
Page 53 and 54: in another accident involving a boo
Page 55 and 56: Background The Czech Republic has E
Page 57 and 58: Ecuador Background The long-standin
Page 59 and 60: 536 “Intervención de la Delegaci
Page 61 and 62: ■ In January 2004, 300 metal tube
Page 63 and 64: numerous 122mm artillery projectile
Page 65 and 66: Estonia Background The ERW found in
Page 67 and 68: agencies have warned that ERW and m
Page 69 and 70: On 1 April 2004, the JSEOD operatio
Page 71 and 72: Thessalonica line from 1915 to 1918
Page 73 and 74: 2003. 737 Munitions whose storage t
Page 75 and 76: Background Greece was invaded and o
Page 77 and 78: Background Guatemala’s ERW proble
Page 79 and 80: Guinea Background Conflicts with ar
Page 81 and 82: 843 “PAAMI 2001-2004,” April 20
Page 83 and 84: Hungary Background Hungary is conta
Page 85 and 86: areas and would need another six mo
Page 87 and 88: From 1989 to 1999, a total of 1,082
Page 89 and 90: used them extensively as part of un
Page 91 and 92: ordnance threat. The following exam
Page 93 and 94: 960 NMAA MRE Strategy 2004, p. 8. 9
Page 95 and 96: Jordan Background MOTAPM were first
Page 97 and 98:
1013 Jordan Article 5 Summary, pres
Page 99 and 100:
1016 Dominic Wabala, “Police Offi
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month in October 2001. During this
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Kyrgyzstan Background The presence
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While it was reported that widespre
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averaging more than 200 per year. I
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The NSP further divides contaminate
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Lebanon Background Lebanon’s prob
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Background Internal conflicts in Li
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and Egypt. Photographs from clearan
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There have been political disputes
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Morocco Background After the depart
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Myanmar/Burma Background Myanmar ha
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Namibia hosts a large number of ref
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In 2004, UNICEF began monitoring mi
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■ Widely dispersed ERW throughout
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Niger Background Niger’s landmine
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Oman Background MOTAPM and anti-per
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for more than 50 years. 1423 A dive
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LOC in Kashmir region many of the l
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Although ERW and MOTAPM contaminati
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Panama Background Panama’s ERW pr
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1519 UN Mine Action Website: Portfo
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philippines 141 1552 “Explosion k
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Poland Background Poland experience
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demining as part of Russia’s inte
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wanda 147 1610 http://proekt.ogi.ru
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1648 According to data from a diffe
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Serbia and Montenegro Ministry of D
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operations. 1698 According to its A
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the border with Ethiopia. There are
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cent), playing (9 per cent), and ta
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due to incidents of AP mines, ERW a
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Sudan Background The civil war betw
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eporting period, in the past local
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Syria Background 1838 A result of t
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tajikistan 167 1850 Landmine Monito
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Thailand Background Thailand’s MO
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Timor Leste Background Timor experi
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Turkey Background Turkey has in the
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district, some areas of Teso region
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ukraine 177 1962 Interview with Dav
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Mine Action Information Centre (UMA
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Vietnam Background More than 30 yea
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No MOTAPM casualties can be confirm
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The increase in the scrap metal and
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vietnam 187 2081 Project RENEW and
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Yemen Background Yemen has witnesse
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zimbabwe 191 2129 Minister Kassim A
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Country & Territory Reports - Landmine Action

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