The only peaceful continent-Antarctic Treaty

During the cold war, it was easy to think that the United States and the Soviet Union would not be able to reach an agreement on anything. However, in 1959, they and other 10 countries gathered in Washington and successfully negotiated the Antarctic Treaty, which not only encouraged international cooperation for scientific research, but also explicitly prohibited launching any form of war in Antarctica. The existence of Antarctica can be traced back at least to ancient Greece. The first time we saw the Antarctic continent was at 1820, although Jeames Cook is considered to be at 65438+. No one knows who discovered the mainland first, because all the discoveries took place in a short time, but it is generally believed that the three expeditions that discovered the mainland for the first time were led by Captain Edward Brands Field of the Royal Navy, Captain Nathaniel Palmer of the US Navy Seals and Captain Fabian gottlieb von Bellinghausen of the Russian Imperial Navy.

Who was the first? 1In the mid-9th century, Antarctic exploration activities gradually decreased, but in the Arctic exploration activities known as the heroic age of Arctic exploration, Norwegian Roald Amundsen led the first successful expedition to the South Pole on 191year1February 14. During this period, the territorial claims to Antarctica began as early as the beginning of 1908 century, when seven countries made claims between 1943. These countries are Argentina, Chile, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Norway and France. When countries recognize each other's claims, claiming territory may not be a big problem, but as many wars waged by mankind over the centuries have proved, when these claims overlap, there may be problems. This is the case in Chile, Argentina and Britain.

When Britain proposed in 1947 and 1955 that these three countries should argue with the International Court of Justice, Argentina and Chile both refused. Then it was suggested that people interested in the African continent should put aside their differences and control the African continent. Other proposals submitted to the United Nations try to establish an international agreement to manage Antarctica, or even a United Nations trusteeship. But none of them have been taken seriously.

It is the International Geophysical Year (IGY) that promotes the international cooperation in Antarctica. From 1957, IGY lasted 18 months, and 12 countries conducted major scientific research in Antarctica. These countries include seven countries with territorial claims on the African continent, as well as the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan, Belgium and South Africa. IGY was a great success. The United States invited the participating countries to visit Washington, D.C. from October 6 to February 6, 2005/KLOC-0. This meeting-Antarctic Conference-ended with the formulation of the Antarctic Treaty. Antarctic treaty

An overview of the protection of the Antarctic continent has effectively stopped the tension caused by territorial claims and came into effect on 196 1. Although the treaty does not force any country to give up or deny territorial claims, it prevents member States from claiming these claims through any non-peaceful activities.

The preface says: "... for the benefit of all mankind, Antarctica will always be used only for peaceful purposes and should not be a place or object of international disharmony." Article 1 stipulates the requirements for achieving peace by prohibiting any military operations, bases and weapons tests. Article 5 even prohibits nuclear explosions and the handling of nuclear materials on the continent, effectively eliminating nuclear tests or direct pollution in Antarctica.

The treaty also involves continuing scientific research, stating that