On Dec. 4, 2024, the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a conference themed "Global and Regional Security in the Era of Conflict: Challenges of the 21st Century." 

Maria Zakharova, director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the keynote address. During the conference, the Russian Studies Center of the China Foreign Affairs University and the Research Center for the Internationalization of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly released the 2024 Pacific Rim Life Safety Index (PRLSI). 

This index continues to focus on the life safety characteristics of 43 countries in the Pacific Rim, demonstrating the impact of international and regional security dynamics on the Asia-Pacific region. It also represents a public good provided by China as it steadily advances toward the center of the global stage.

Associate Professor Zhang Jian from the Russian Studies Center of China Foreign Affairs University explained that the 2024 edition of the PRLSI builds on the 2023 edition, maintaining the monitoring and ranking of life safety conditions across 43 Pacific Rim countries. Utilizing big data technology, the index retrieves and processes internet data through specific algorithms, providing a comprehensive depiction of life safety conditions in the Pacific Rim region.

In 2023, the PRLSI recorded an average score of 61, with a median of 61.38. The gap between the highest and lowest scores was 47.32, and 22 countries scored above the average. However, in 2024, the average score fell to 59.1, and the median dropped to 58.82. The gap between the highest and lowest scores narrowed slightly to 46.5, with only 21 countries scoring above the average.

The health dimension indicators showed an overall decline, with the average score falling from 23.10 in the previous year to 21.85. Singapore ranked first in this dimension with a score of 33.73, followed by Japan (33.19), New Zealand (32.25), Republic of Korea (31.45), Canada (30.52), Australia (29.21), Cook Islands (28.43), Costa Rica (26.91), Chile (26.87), and China (26.44). Among the top 10 countries, four are from Asia, three from Oceania, and three from the Americas.

Conversely, the bottom 10 countries were predominantly Pacific Island nations, with some Asian countries also represented. The health dimension analysis highlights a general decline in the capacity to safeguard individual life and health across the Pacific Rim, with the decline being particularly pronounced in Pacific Island nations.

The natural dimension index has improved, with an average score of 13.69, up from 12.38 in the previous year. Singapore ranks first with a score of 19.87, followed by Brunei (19.56), Palau (19.50), Niue (19.12), Cook Islands (18.95), Nauru (18.93), Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (18.88), East Timor (18.72), Samoa (18.64), and Kiribati (18.55). Among the top ten countries, four are in Asia, while six are in Oceania. The bottom ten countries are primarily in the Americas, followed by Asia.

Notably, Canada’s ranking dropped from second to 29th in the natural dimension due to prolonged environmental damage and meteorological disasters. Environmental damage lasted 89 days, causing Canada’s environmental pollution response score to fall from 4.4 to 2.9. Similarly, meteorological disasters persisted for 100 days, reducing the extreme climate response score from 5.21 to 2.38.

In contrast, Brunei’s ranking surged from 30th to 2nd, driven by a perfect score of 7 in geological disaster response, a significant improvement from last year’s 1.53. Likewise, Tonga’s ranking climbed from 40th to 14th, as its score for extreme climate response rose to 6, a remarkable recovery from -1.07 in the previous year.

The natural dimension highlights the high uncertainty of natural disasters and their significant threat to individual life safety. In Canada, issues such as environmental damage and meteorological disasters have adversely impacted the life safety of its population.

The social dimension index deteriorated, with an average score of 12.96, down from 14.33 in the previous year. China ranked first with a score of 19.68, followed by Singapore (18.29), Japan (18.26), South Korea (17.25), Brunei (16.82), Thailand (16.76), Vietnam (16.11), the Philippines (16.02), Indonesia (15.66), and Canada (15.27). Among the top ten countries, nine are in Asia, and one is in the Americas. The bottom ten countries are predominantly in Oceania.

Notably, declines in the sense of security indicator contributed to lower rankings in the social dimension for some countries. For instance, Chile’s score for the sense of security dropped from 12.06 to 7.27, causing its ranking to fall from 7th to 27th. Similarly, Peru’s score decreased from 10.32 to 4.82, resulting in a drop from 15th to 35th. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea experienced a decrease in its sense of security score from 13.05 to 9.06 and a drop in its peace index score from 2.4 to 0.85, leading to a fall in ranking from 3rd to 26th.

Conversely, improvements in the peace index helped boost rankings for some countries. Thailand’s ranking rose from 19th to 4th as its peace index score increased from -0.28 to 2.4. Similarly, Vietnam climbed from 27th to 7th due to its peace index score improving from -0.71 to 2.4.

The social dimension highlights that a sense of security has become a critical factor influencing rankings. The significant drops in rankings for Chile, Peru, and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea illustrate the impact of declining scores in this area.

The overall score of the psychological dimension index decreased, with an average score of 10.61, down from 11.20 in the previous year. China ranked first with a score of 17.16, followed by Australia (16.91), Canada (16.61), Mexico (15.39), Singapore (15.37), New Zealand (15.35), the United States (15.01), South Korea (14.77), Costa Rica (13.93), and Chile (13.72). Among the top ten countries, three are in Asia, two in Oceania, and five in the Americas. Among the bottom ten countries, nine are Pacific Island nations.

Notably, Mexico’s ranking rose significantly, from 24th to 5th, due to improvements in several indicators. Its self-harm intervention index score increased from 1.23 to 2.45, its suicide intervention index score rose from 1.24 to 2.47, its psychological disease prevention index score climbed from 1.21 to 2.42, and its happiness index score improved from 7.02 to 8.03. Similarly, South Korea’s ranking rose from 21st to 8th, with its self-harm intervention index score increasing from 1.14 to 2.28, suicide intervention index score rising from 1.12 to 2.24, psychological disease prevention index score climbing from 1.13 to 2.26, and happiness index score improving from 7.85 to 8.56.

The psychological dimension highlights ongoing challenges, particularly in Pacific Island nations, where psychological issues remain unaddressed. Even in developed countries, mental health problems continue to demand attention.

The country with the highest total score is Singapore, scoring 87.26. The second is South Korea with 76.57, followed by China with 76.05. New Zealand ranks fourth with 75.69, and Canada fifth with 74.68. Australia is sixth with 74.66, while Brunei ranks seventh with 73.34. Thailand is eighth with 68.46, Cook Islands ninth with 66.84, and Chile tenth with 65.50. Among the top ten countries, five are in Asia, three in Oceania, and two in the Americas. The bottom ten countries are predominantly Pacific Island nations.

The life safety situation in the Pacific Rim region remains in urgent need of attention. Compared to last year, the overall life safety conditions in the region have deteriorated. First, the life safety level of Pacific Rim countries has declined, with the average total score of the index dropping to 59.12, compared to 61 in the previous year. Second, there is still a significant disparity in life safety levels among countries, with 21 countries scoring above the average. The gap between the highest and lowest scores remains wide at 46.5 points. Third, the safest countries in the Pacific Rim are still concentrated in the East Seventh to East Tenth Time Zones, while Pacific Island nations continue to rank among the lowest.

The 2024 Pacific Rim Life Safety Index (PRLSI) received unanimous praise from participating experts. Tatyana Shakleina, a political science professor and honorary Russian scientist from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, highlighted the index’s high practical value. Mohammad Wiezell Batmaz, a professor at Bekent University in Turkey, emphasized the importance of the index as a big data-based tool essential for achieving digital transformation. Similarly, Andrei Malov, a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, remarked on the index’s tangible significance for regional development and economic prosperity.

The Pacific Rim Life Safety Index will continue to evolve, striving to enhance life safety for the people of the Pacific Rim region. It aims to serve as a reference for optimizing the allocation of global resources, including funds, technology, and talent, within the Pacific Rim. Moreover, it promotes the concept of “harmony,” calling on all nations to place greater emphasis on life safety and work towards building a community with a shared future for humanity.

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