In a recent appearance on The Gist, Rahul Karan Reddy, Senior Research Associate at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), spoke on China’s first-ever national security white paper, titled “China’s National Security in the New Era”, released in May 2025.
The white paper marks a significant moment in the evolution of China’s security thinking, with the Communist Party of China (CPC) offering an expansive definition of national security. From artificial intelligence and outer space to air pollution, online fraud, and even cultural production, Beijing has brought virtually every domain under the umbrella of national security.
During the interview Mr. Reddy highlighted that the white paper is as much a geopolitical signal as it is a domestic doctrine. On the international front, the White Paper positions China as a stabilising force in an era marked by war, supply chain disruptions, and technological fragmentation, while painting the United States as the main source of global unpredictability.
Mr. Reddy also noted that Taiwan features briefly in the document, with rhetorical tones that appear conciliatory before quickly reverting to China’s uncompromising position.
In conclusion, Mr. Reddy argued, the white paper is not a shift in policy, but a strategic document of intent, one that consolidates the Party’s expansive view of security and reinforces the logic of centralised control at home and assertiveness abroad.