“Let us not call ‘defence’ a rearmament that increases tensions and insecurity, impoverishes investments in education and health, betrays trust in diplomacy, and enriches elites who care nothing for the common good,” said the pontiff.
“Let us not call ‘defence’ a rearmament that increases tensions and insecurity, impoverishes investments in education and health, betrays trust in diplomacy, and enriches elites who care nothing for the common good,” said the pontiff.
Tibet tried that. For quite a while. Then they took the guns and manned the few canons they had. But it was too late and they were too few. They simply weren‘t prepared for an invasion and they had no allies to aid them. You can‘t be truly pacifist if you can‘t defend yourself.
It also works if your opponent cares about the opinions of other countries or possibly whatever amount of conscience is left at home. AFAIK that’s how India gained its independence from Britain. Doesn’t work with aggressive (wannabe-)conquerors like Russia, China or USA, though.