Securitization of Food Issues in the UN and China`s Food Security Governance

Abstract

本文起源於兩大研究問題：誰在治理中國的糧食安全？中國糧食安全嗎？因此使用聯合國糧食安全定義分析中國大陸糧食安全治理機制與治理狀況，主要發現有兩點：第一是糧食議題的安全化進展。聯合國雖然從1970年代中葉就開始進行糧食議題的安全化，並且逐步在1970 年代將糧食充足性，1980 年代將糧食可取得性，1990 年代將食物使用性等項目列入糧食安全的指標中，但是氣候變遷卻在21 世紀初期成為威脅糧食安全的新變數，使得糧食供需及取得的穩定性在近期成為糧食安全的重要指標，聯合國也因此在本世紀初期積極建構相關的治理機制和評量指標。第二是中國糧食安全的狀況。中國在國家安全因素的驅使下，已經安全化它的糧食充足性，然而，為了避免糧食治理機制（尤其是可取得性、使用性、穩定性）的運作出現瓶頸，中國在未來仍需要強化地方政府與國內市場等治理機制的成長，改善不負責任的跨國農業投資行為，以及制定能因應新形態人類安全威脅的前瞻性政策。

This paper arises from an attempt to answer the two following questions: （1）Who is responsible for China`s food security governance?（2）Is China`s food security status secured? Definition of food security constructed by the United Nations（UN）was applied to analyze China`s food security governance and status, with two important findings. First, regarding securitization of the food issues, while the UN has gradually taken food availability（since the 1970s）, accessibility（since the 1980s）, and utilization and safety（since the 1990s）into consideration as food security indices, the index of stability has also been included into the UN`s contemporary food security definition, primarily due to an emerging threat of climate change. A more comprehensive food security governance mechanism and measurement as a result has been contributed by the UN`s efforts in the 21^(st) century. Second, regarding China`s case, although China`s food availability currently has been secured due to national security concerns, its food security governance mechanism, especially for accessibility, utilization, and stability, is facing new challenges. To better deal with these new challenges, this paper believes that China needs to pay more attention to development of local food security governance and markets, of responsible agricultural investments overseas, and of pioneering policies to mitigate new threats to human security in the era of globalization.