Canadian organizations oppose RIMPAC, practice for war on China
Written by: Barbara Waldern
People’s organizations in Canada are endorsing a campaign against US-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises in July and August. They take off from Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
The US 3rd Fleet leads many countries’ naval and air forces in RIMPAC exercises biannually. RIMPAC 2024 - Operation Restore Griffon HADR - is a NATO project with European and well as Canada and Asian partners.
These exercises face notable opposition, with Hawaii being the main stage of protests. This year the RIMPAC protest mobilization is expanding. The Cancel RIMPAC 2024 resistance campaign will hold a big demonstration and peoples’ forum in San Diego on June 29 and 30.
RIMPAC – What is it?
A US practice since 1971, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand (until 1985 and then after 2012) and UK forces, have joined RIMPAC. They grew with the regular participation of Chile, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. The original purpose was to improve the capabilities of a multinational collective. In 1988, the exercises became a mock war with national air and naval contingents divided to play one side against the other. The DPRK has been a concern and increasingly China, so that one could interpret these exercises as practice for war against either country today.
Explaining the significance of San Diego, Cancel RIMPAC states, “San Diego has the largest military installation in the entire U.S. and the highest concentration of military and defense assets in the entire world and the world’s largest naval fleet, housing almost a quarter (24%) of U.S. Navy vessels.”
San Diego is the headquarters of naval technological development. RIMPAC incorporates Trident Warrior, which is an annual testing and practice of war technologies done in San Diego waters. An example is robotic marine vessels (“sea drones”). In fact, the US Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) heads Trident Warrior experiments.
At the last RIMPAC, held in from June 29 to August 4, 2022, Canada sent four warships and 800 military personnel.
Canadian military personnel joined the Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP) session with peers from Japan, Chile, France, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the United States at the Naval Base Point Loma Annex in San Diego from March 25 to 28, 2024. At that same location, Canadian officers took part in a leadership conference in April 2024.
The Canadian defense policy
The Canadian 2024 budget paper states that “Canada will invest $8.1 billion over the next five years, and $73 billion over the next 20 years.” Much of this money is to “defend North America” and “Canada’s global interests and values.” Another chunk of it is for naval enhancement and expansion - Maritime Sensors, submarine fleet, Arctic patrol vessels, long-range air and sea missiles and naval vessels – among other things. For example, $9.9 billion is budgeted for naval vessels over 20 years.
Canada is drawing more from the well of social services and development created by taxpayers to serve the aims of US imperialism and the capitalists. Canadian foreign and defense policies are aligned with US politics and ideology. As the US militarization grows and makes more threats to Russia and China, Canada has become more committed to military engagement and more antagonistic to Russia and China. Its loyalty to the lost cause of the NATO proxy war on Russia is a good illustration.
Canada-China relations
Canada follows the US in taking a hostile stance towards China. The Canadian government sides with Taiwan independence and criticizes China's presence in the South China Sea. The anti-China propaganda floated by the state and media has apparently influenced Canadians; according to a Pew Poll, only 14 per cent view China positively. China may not care about Canada, especially after the Huawei and two Michaels debacles. Canada is a low trade priority in China's eyes, in any case.
The international campaign to Cancel RIMPAC
Launched on April 10, 2024, Cancel RIMPAC was organized by US and Canadian activists in the International Women's Alliance, BAYAN, and Resist US-Led War. The two targets of this campaign are the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) based in Hawaii and the transnational weapons profiteers, many with operations in San Diego.
Organizers oppose looming militarization of Asia-Pacific and the US encirclement of China, the development and trade of weaponry, environmental damage, along with the threat of large-scale and nuclear wars. They want to widen the peace movement, raise awareness, and expose US military bases, projects and companies.
In addition to rehearsing for war, defense contractors and fossil fuel corporations enjoy hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from RIMPAC and all the US military Pacific operations each year. While taxes are invested in destruction, communities lose funds for much needed housing food, healthcare and employment. Furthermore, the US military occupation of Hawaii violates indigenous sovereignty and transforms the homeland into a military launch pad.
“RIMPAC leads to environmental destruction, violence against women, and a gross neglect of the day to day needs of people all over the world by advancing US-led wars,” says Cancel RIMPAC. Organizers will continue their resistance to RIMPAC, leading up to June 29 and 30.
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Barbara Waldern is a peace activist residing in Metro Vancouver, BC, who, holding a Masters in social science, has worked in international educational support services.
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