เรื่อง: Economic Warfare-A New Dimension of Warf
Efficacy and Legitimacy, (วปอ.10039)
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หมวดหมู่:
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งานวิจัย
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มิติ:
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ไม่ระบุ/not specified
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พื้นที่/ขอบเขต:
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ภายในประเทศ/Domestic/Local
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ผู้เขียน:
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วิทยาลัยป้องกันราชอาณาจักร, Brig.Gen. Dato' Tong Veng Leong มาเลเซีย, (วปอ.10039)
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หน่วยงานเจ้าของ:
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วิทยาลัยป้องกันราชอาณาจักร
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ปีที่พิมพ์:
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2565
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จำนวนหน้า:
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การเปิดเผยข้อมูล:
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สาธารณะ
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บทคัดย่อ:
-
abstract:
Economic Warfare – A New Dimension of Warfare;
Its Ramifications, Efficacy and Legitimacy
By
Brigadier General Dato’ Tong Veng Leong RMAF
Malaysian Armed Forces
Malaysia
Student of The National Defence College
The National Defence Course : Class 65
Academic Year of 2022 – 2023i
Abstract
Title : Economic Warfare – A New Dimension of Warfare;
Its Ramifications, Efficacy and Legitimacy Strategy
Field : Strategy
Name : Brigadier General Dato’ Tong Veng Leong RMAF
Course : NDC Class: 65
Since the Peloponnesian War, the economic dimension of
warfare had been employed as one of the means to weaken and subjugate
the enemy in tandem with military warfare. As the world economies
become more globalized, intertwined and interdependent, weaponization
of the economy has inevitably become more pronounced. It has turned
out to be a convenient ‘weapon’ of choice to compel and influence an
adversary to change his political stance or behavior. This is aided by the
fact that a kinetic military action is constantly subjected to close scrutiny
of the international community and media. The atrocities of war often
receive worldwide attention and coverage earning condemnation and
criticism. Unlike an armed conflict which are normally fought in the
battlefields between combatants, economic warfare is non-physical and
its ‘killing fields’ invites less media attention. However, it tends to be
more pervasive and borderless.
Economic warfare exists in many forms with sanctions being
utilized the most. Unilateral sanctions can be easily declared upon a
target State with a simple foreign policy change without consent from any
third parties. The weaponization of the economy is able to inflict
significant and severe socio-economic costs on the target State and its ii
citizenry as a whole. Its indiscriminate nature often inflicts severe
adverse impacts on vulnerable segment of societies, namely children,
women and the elderly. Despite its debilitating ramifications and little known efficacy, it has been a convenient foreign policy tool embraced by
perpetrating State.
This research paper intends to provide analytical case studies
on sanctions imposed on Cuba, Iran, North Korea and China. Thereafter,
it will expound on the legitimacy of weaponizing the economy based on
international rule-based laws and provide some circumspect
recommendations for considerations.iii
Preface
As an active and serving officer of the Malaysian Armed
Forces, I have served a total of 38 years in the Royal Malaysian Air Force
as a Qualified Flying Instructor on the MiG-29N, Aermacchi MB339A
and Aermacchi MB339CM. I have witnessed first-hand the destruction
of war in Eritrea and Ethiopia whilst I was serving as a UN Military
Observer there in 2006-2007. Besides that, I am a trained and qualified
Law of Armed Conflict Instructor endorsed by the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). That said, being a professional
soldier, it is pertinent that we must be constantly be aware of the
boundaries and limitations when engaging in an armed conflict.
Otherwise, we will be subjected to adjudication of war crimes against
humanity. Hence, it is of utmost importance that a professional soldier
should adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, military
necessity, limitations, good faith (during negotiations) and, humane
treatment and non-discrimination in the conduct of our military
campaign.
In that context, it is unfathomable that the international
community tolerates the waging of economic warfare against a target
State capable of inflicting immense sufferings to the general populace and
wreak devastating effects on a country. How is it that the perpetrating
State is allowed to act with impunity and not held accountable for its
actions by causing unnecessary sufferings? It is time the international
community take decisive actions to curtail such violations against
humanity and judiciously regulate any form of economic warfare in order
to prevent this blatant abuse of might and power. It is only through the iv
principle of accountability that the perpetrating State will be compelled to
limit their unbridled actions to exercise restraint or be prepared to face the
consequences of adjudication of crimes against humanity.
Brigadier General
(Dato’Tong Veng Leong RMAF )
Student of the Thai National Defence College
Course : NDC Class : 65
Researcherv
Acknowledgement
It was indeed an honour and privilege to be given the
opportunity to attend a revered institution such as the National Defence
College, Thailand. The journey has been an interesting one as I learned
to adapt to the Thai culture, norms and language. I have the rare
opportunity to interact with the elitest and finest of Thai national as well
as my International course mates. All the way, it was a steep learning
curve that was challenging yet fun and enjoyable.
As part of the course pre-requisite, we are required to write a
research paper and it had been a very enlightening educational endeavour.
On this token, I would like take to express my sincere appreciation and
gratitude to my research paper advisor – Lt Gen Dr Krisada Suthanintr for
his patience in providing guidance and tutelage in the writing of my
research paper. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my
lovely wife for her care and understanding and, giving me the space as I
did my research writing for hours on end sitting away in my private
corner writing my research paper and assignments. Besides that, her
constant encouragement has been my source of inspiration. I am sure
without the moral support and encouragement from these two individuals,
I would be faced with an unenviable task in completing my research
paper.
Last but not least, I wish to thank Senior Capt Phraphob and his
team from the Education Development Division for their diligence in
continuously providing administrative assistance to us throughout the
NDC65 course. I would also like to out on record my appreciation to Col
Chiraporn from the Research Supervision and Library Division for her
patience and guidance in advising on the pre-requisite and format of the research paper. Her department also had to undertake the monumental
task of compiling all our written assignments and research papers for
submission and final print. All assistance rendered had been most helpful
in facilitating and smoothening our academic journey in NDC.
Brigadier General
(Dato’Tong Veng Leong RMAF )
Student of the Thai National Defence College
Course : NDC Class : 65
