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In our final weekly newsletter of 2023, we share a photo-essay by Sylvia Frain and Fiona Amundsen about the impact of nuclear policies on the Mariana Islands, brought to life through innovative use of photography. In case you missed it, we also share some of our past work on US-China arms control, and as always, activities from our network.
We would like to thank you for your support throughout the year. |
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Seeing the Sun:
Nuclear (in)visibility in the Mariana Islands of Guam & Tinian
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| In this essay, Sylvia Frain and Fiona Amundsen examine the historical and contemporary impacts of nuclear policies on the Mariana Islands.
Through the use of photographic artworks and community-centered research, their essay calls for a reevaluation of the Pacific nuclear legacy and the development of ethical visual methods to support nuclear justice and disarmament efforts. It highlights the ongoing consequences of US nuclear testing and military presence on the Indigenous Chamorro people of Guam and the residents of Tinian.
Frain and Amundsen demonstrate a need to challenge the dominant narratives of nuclear imperialism and advocate for the visibility of marginalized voices and experiences. They also underscore the importance of various forms of resistance and recognition, including artistic, legal, and political avenues, to address the complex histories and ongoing struggles of the Mariana Islands. |
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Photographs by Fiona Amundsen.
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“Black and white exposed film has been processed onsite using water sourced from Merizo Pier. This water has a trace residue of radiation which has effectively fogged the light sensitive film. In addition … chemiluminescence has been added, which … damages the film by creating white spots of fogging that prevent visibility of the initial photographed image. This process is akin to how radiation resides in the body’s DNA, damaging it over time.”
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| “Runway Abel, Tinian Island (66,000 instant deaths),” Inkjet Photographic Print, 2023 (cropped) |
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| “Palm Tree near Merizo Pier, Guam (2,121 stomachs)”, Inkjet Photographic Print, 2023 (cropped) |
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| “Broken Bamboo near Merizo Pier, Guam (2,121 limbs),” Inkjet Photographic Print, 2023 (cropped) |
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“Tree Roots Near the Bomb Storage Facility, Tinian Island (2,121 burning spirits)”,
Inkjet Photographic Print, 2023 (cropped) |
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| “Tree Roots near the Bomb Storage Facility, Tinian Island (2,121 Mushroom Stems),” 2023 (cropped) |
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| After the US-China summit in San Francisco last month, there is momentum for positive change in the US-China relationship. Read previous APLN statements and publications on US-China arms control. |
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Group Statement: China-US Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
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| In November, 90 members of APLN’s network signed a statement supporting arms control talks between the United States and China, urging the two countries to resume high-level bilateral dialogue on non-proliferation and disarmament. |
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| Syed Ali Zia Jaffery argued that opportunities for arms control talks between the United States and China must be decisively seized by both countries. |
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| David Santoro reviewed the key lessons learned from Track-2 and Track-1.5 US-China dialogues on nuclear strategic issues, and provided recommendations for how to improve mutual understanding and establish an official strategic nuclear dialogue between the two countries. |
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APLN has over 150 members from 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.
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| Jina Kim, Dean of Language and Diplomacy Division at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, was appointed to the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. [This article is in Korean.] |
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| C. Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, wrote for Foreign Policy on the concept of global south, arguing that using the global south as a category and frame of reference makes it much harder to understand the complex realities of different countries and regions. |
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| Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy, and Technology, wrote for the Diplomat on the recent Indian Parliament security breach, highlighting the ongoing challenges India faces in safeguarding its critical infrastructure. |
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| Kishore Mahbubani, former Singaporean Ambassador to the United Nations, wrote for Financial Times and emphasised that it is crucial for the West and other regions to engage in dialogue as equals. |
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| Shen Dingli, Professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, wrote for China Daily about the Xi-Biden Summit and argued that fundamentally, maintaining the right direction of China-US relations would require statecraft by the top leaders of both countries. |
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| Nobumasa Akiyama, APLN Senior Associate Fellow and Professor at Hitotsubashi University, wrote for Nikkei Asia on the 3rd meeting of International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons. He pointed out that AI and emerging technologies pose new challenges amid deteriorating environment. |
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| Rajaram Panda, former Senior Fellow at Pradhanmantri Memorial Museum and Library (PMML), New Delhi, wrote for the Statesman about the two 2+2 ministerial dialogues India hosted with the US and Australia. He argued that the driving force behind this convergence of strategic interests stems from anxiety over China. |
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