CHINA'S GLOBAL SECURITY INITIATIVE

China’s security perceptions, misperceptions, actions, and inactions have garnered momentum in today’s global security landscape. China’s evolution from developing its own approach to security to becoming a critical player in international security warrants attention. “We humanity are living in an indivisible security community. It has been proven time and again that the Cold War mentality would only wreck the global peace framework, that hegemonism and power politics would only endanger world peace, and that bloc confrontation would only exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century," said Xi Jinping with regards to the future of global security. In this regard, Xi’s vision has been integrated into China’s actions towards maintaining global security.

On April 21, 2022 at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Xi Jinping launched the Global Security Initiative (GSI). He addressed the forum about this initiative and elaborated on its vital role in China’s contemporary approach to security. This initiative is crucial to China’s global perception as it shifts the status quo by advocating for common global efforts to approach global security, sovereignty, cooperation and sustainability.

This article will focus on the evolution of China’s vision for global security, the Global Security Initiative, its core elements and recent developments. It will also discuss the implications of GSI, responses of the international community and assessment of the initiative.

Evolution of China’s Concept of Security

During the period prior to the establishment of the CCP, China’s understanding of security was focused on quelling the threat of disorderliness. Its security objective was to bring in coexistence and harmony during a time rife with social and political uncertainty. Their perceived “threat” did not originate from an external force and the need to protect their borders, but rather internally. Thus, maintaining domestic stability and order was China’s primary objective.

This emphasis on maintaining internal order gradually shifted with the rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Thus, since the establishment of the CCP in 1921, establishing a new regime gained impetus. This process was bolstered by the CCP’s need to invigorate sentiments of revolution and disorder among the people to forge a new regime under which there was a clear distinction between allies and foes. Imperialism, feudalism, the bourgeoisie of Western countries and the landlords of China fell under the latter. Under Mao’s vision, China’s security included drawing out counter-revolutionaries who impeded the process and ensuring internal security by promoting revolutionary sentiments.

In 1978, Deng Xiaoping shifted the focus of China’s security to economic growth. He introduced the concepts of reforming and opening the country. Deng connected the legitimacy of the political regime to its ability to boost the economy. Rapid economic growth gained importance and political stability, the development of the armed forces, and the removal of anti-revolutionaries or political threats supported its growth. Following this, the Ministry of State Security was established in 1983 for intelligence and anti-espionage activities. However, maintaining social stability continued to be a crucial part of national security. At the same time, global upheavals, the novelty of a post-bipolar world order and China’s newly opened economy affected its security outlook. Along the vein of domestic security through stability, an emphasis on the application of security in foreign affairs emerged. By the end of 1990, a new security concept spearheaded by President Jiang Zemin arose.

This also marked the adoption of a security discourse palatable to international interests, such as the United Nations. It included traditional, non-traditional and other global security threats. Post-2000s, the volatility of global security caused by the 9/11 attacks and the US’ War on Terror changed the Chinese approach to security significantly. The Chinese state used this to strengthen itself as the security provider for its people and to enhance the country’s development in all aspects.

In 2013, Xi Jinping greatly deepened China’s security architecture. He established the National Security Commission (NSC) to create a security framework that reflected China’s unique experience. This new concept was supposed to embody a holistic approach, with Xi and the CCP at the centre of providing security in the internal and external spheres. As the impact and interwovenness of China increases multifold in economic and political terms, its importance has become inextricable in the world. In this background, in 2022, Xi Jinping introduced the Global Security Initiative.

The Global Security Initiative

Origin

The objective of this initiative, as described by Chinese strategists, is to fill the dearth of effective security architecture created by the rising East and the decline of power in the West/ US hegemony.. GSI underscores China’s plans to increase bilateral and multilateral exchanges over security issues, such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, non-traditional security, biosecurity and more. Additionally, it counters bloc formations and conflict provocations from preexisting groups or blocs. The number of interactions at the military-level security training programmes has been steadily increasing. This helps China in building cooperation and dialogue with other nations over common security concerns.

On April 21 2022, President Xi Jinping delivered a speech that defined China’s foreign policy and global aspirations. In the speech, he emphasised the need for an “indivisible security community” in an era of dynamic changes. He elucidated that development is a byproduct of security, and noted its absence in today’s geopolitical scenario, citing the Ukraine-Russia war and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a proposal, it recommends progressing from the “Cold War mentality”, unilateralism, and implementing the UN Charter and upholding sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference. It further advocates for creating a global security that is inclusive, universal, equally accessible mutual respect, and most importantly, is multipolar.

Core Principles

The GSI offers comprehensive and global principles to shape the global order.

1. Common, comprehensive and sustainable security: This aspect is a “holistic approach” characterised by a new vision that promotes a common understanding and respect for security, traditional and non-traditional security, and encourages peaceful dialogue and negotiations.
2. Sovereignty and territorial integrity: This aspect foreshadows the requisites of international law- sovereignty and non-interference in the domestic affairs of all countries; regardless of their political, military and economic strength, the initiative holds all countries to the same standards.
3. UN Charter principles: It suggests that contemporary issues in the world have occurred due to the lack of enforcement of the UN Charter Principles and promotes multilateralism and the Charter’s tenets for security governance.
4. Indivisible security community: This notes the need for the security of all countries to be legitimised and given equal importance- no one country’s security should compromise the security of another.
5. Conflict resolution through dialogue: This principle criticises the use of war and sanctions to resolve conflicts and prescribes dialogue and consultation.
6. Traditional and non-traditional security: This tenet calls for countries to collaborate, consult and develop all-encompassing solutions to traditional and non-traditional security threats.

As per Chinese sources, China’s vision of global security leaves space for countries to incorporate systems that are not limited to the liberal democratic model. Herein lies the essence of the GSI’s appeal. Additionally, the Initiative outlines China’s and the world’s role in the implementation of these principles. It pledges to formulate a New Agenda for Peace, increase participation in the UN’s role in global security, and strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It also aims to forge stronger ties with regional groupings like ASEAN, the African Union, the League of Arab States, Latin American and Caribbean countries. Furthermore, under GSI, it will make efforts to mobilise platforms to increase the opportunities of cooperation via the UN and all its committees, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, the ‘China-Central Asia” mechanism, and other Asian organisations to promote and support the development of the Global South. It also encourages the use of international forums such as the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, the Middle East Security Forum, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, and others to conduct dialogue on peace and security affairs.

Global Responses to the GSI

The United States has attempted to push its stance on the GSI and outline possible outcomes of China reshaping the global order as it advocates for developing countries’ rights, denounces group formations and challenges US’s hegemony in the world order. The US remains cautious and does not support the initiative. The impact and success of the initiative among developing countries that do not fall within the US’s ample allyship is what concerns them. Much like the United States, the West (United Kingdom, France, and others) largely share the US's opinion about the initiative.

They remain cautious, and acknowledge that it challenges their security agenda and groups such as AUKUS, the Quad and NATO. Additionally, they view it as China’s attempt to establish itself as the leader of peace in the Asia Pacific region; this sours India’s opinion of the initiative. A prominent Indian academic has pointed out that this initiative has bearing for India because of pre-existing border issues with China. The initiative may propose a multipolar world; however, India remains conscious of how the initiative may impede its global ambitions and its strive for being the leader of the developing countries and Asia.

On the other hand, Russia supports the initiative. At the same time, it is true that China is offering security to Central Asian countries due to Russia’s external conflicts. Central Asian countries enjoy China’s support in this aspect as well as the potential security benefits offered by the GSI. In Latin America, the GSI has received support from Nicaragua, Ecuador and Uruguay. These countries have economic, political and military reasons to welcome the GSI and China’s assistance. Further, experts have commented that after 2022 when President Biden furthered his Indo-Pacific security strategy by visiting certain countries, other countries were left with fewer allies and strategic partners during the Ukraine war. This void was filled by China, thus rendering their support for the initiative.

African countries have shown great support for the GSI. The GSI explicitly mentions that it intends to work closely with African countries and respects their right to sovereignty and development. China’s non-intervention policy is an important aspect of their support for the GSI.

Recent Developments in the GSI

Over time, China has been pursuing support for the GSI through various bilateral and multilateral meetings. One of the most noteworthy achievements of this initiative has been the rekindling of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran after years of tension. The GSI has prompted Xi to comment on the Ukraine-Russia war and recommends convening an international platform applicable to both countries to initiate a resolution that is fair and has equal participation. While China did support humanitarian aid for Ukraine, it did not offer support for the harsh sanctions placed on Russia. In 2023, it again abstained from condemning Russia and supported the above mentioned causes and other matters such as post-conflict reconstruction, stabilising industrial and supply chains, and others.

In regards to the Israel-Palestine war, China released a paper in 2023 that outlined their stance. The paper stated that President Xi supported a two-state solution, an immediate ceasefire, diplomatic dialogue, allowing humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and to ensure that the conflict does not exacerbate. In July 2024, Beijing facilitated reconciliation between 14 Palestinian factions called the “Beijing Declaration”. The declaration supported unity within Palestine groups and outlined a three-step solution to help stop the conflict.

Recently in June, China’s Defense Minister, Dong Jun, used the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore as a platform to promote the GSI. He expressed that the initiative advocates for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. On September 3, the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held. At the conference, Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, commented that China-Africa cooperation and engagement has increased and deepened due to three global initiatives launched by China.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a research organisation dedicated to the GSI- the Centre for Global Security Initiative Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. As per the report, over 100 countries, regions and many international organisations have expressed their support for the initiative. The report also reveals that its core principles have been integrated into many bilateral and multilateral agreements between China and other countries.

The security mechanisms China adopted as a developing country in its nascent stages and now as a great power involved in key global security dynamics, has evolved. While the Western countries and its allies may not share China’s vision of the GSI, it is clear that China will subsequently play an integral role in upholding and protecting the sovereignty and right of determination of countries, as China has been in the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Palestine wars. Despite the criticisms about the initiative being sound, China will undeniably be a crucial piece in the maze of global security.