The Global Security Initiative: Its Relevance, Rationale and Delivery

Liu Shiqiang

Today， our world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Global security landscape is becoming ever more unstable and uncertain. In the face of growing deficits in security， Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative （GSI）， offering a clear answer to the question of the times： what kind of security concept does the world need， and how can we achieve common security？ It is of great significance to fully grasp the relevance of and the rationale for the GSI， and push for its strategic delivery， so as to contribute to the long-term peace and stability of the world.

The Relevance of the GSI

In todays world， the security competition between major countries is becoming unprecedentedly fierce and global security crisis is overwhelmingly intensifying. The GSI is an expression of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in security field. It not only reflects Chinas overall national security concept in the new era， but also serves as a scientific guide for addressing the security challenges facing mankind.

First， it helps to navigate the current global situation from a historical perspective. Mankind desires lasting peace， yet the world today is far from being peaceful. On the one hand， traditional security threats continue unabated. The protracted Ukraine crisis has bogged Europe down into a security trap， the US across-the-board strategic crackdown on China has led to continued tension between the two countries， and the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts has hampered reconciliation in the Middle East. On the other hand， non-traditional security threats keep cropping up. Global issues such as terrorism， climate change， energy crisis， cyber-security and infectious diseases continue to spread， threatening the very survival and development of mankind. Those traditional and non-traditional security issues are intertwined and reinforcing each other， making global security governance more complicated and difficult. Mankind is now standing at a crossroads of peace or war， cooperation or confrontation. Facing the changes and turbulence of world today， the GSI emphasizes a coordinated response to various security threats， based on its recognition of the diverse， transnational and interconnected nature of security threats. By that it provides an important guidance for addressing the chaos of the world and navigating the current situation from a historical perspective.

Second， it offers a clear approach for improving global security governance. As the world is becoming ever more insecure， the existing institutions and mechanisms can hardly be effective. The collective security mechanism with the United Nations （UN） at its core lacks such authority and leadership that can effectively restrain the unilateral acts of some countries. The UN bases its operation upon the coordination of major countries， the intensified strategic competition among which makes it hard to adopt broad consensus–based resolutions. And even though adopted， it is equally hard to implement them in an effective way. In this context， quite a few countries have established a variety of regional security mechanisms in order to take security into their own hands. However， these mechanisms often go without effective communication and docking with each other， leading to mutual exclusion and vicious competition. In addition， in the face of increasing global security issues， there are blind spots and vacuum in existing governance mechanisms， especially in the emerging areas of climate， cyber， maritime， polar and space. The GSI advocates collective security with the UN at its core， calls for building a balanced， effective and sustainable security architecture， and focuses on addressing the inadequacy and inefficiency of existing security governance mechanism， thus providing an institutional solution to global security.

Third， it points out the direction for reshaping global security concept. Security problems we are facing today stem from the outdated security concepts of Western countries. Firstly， the concept of national priority. It does not recognize the equality and inter-dependency of security of different countries. Instead， countries harboring the concept make security-related strategies and moves solely out of their own interests and positions， ignoring the legitimate security concerns of others， or even at the expense of others security. Secondly， the concept of absolute security. It views the outside world with zero-sum mentality and confrontational logic， believing that only by eliminating all current or potential threats can security be obtained， and to this end， it is willing to make huge military investment， pursue absolute superiority by consolidating military alliances， and constantly looks for “threats” all over， create chaos， and weaken adversaries. Thirdly， the practice of double standards. After the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis， Western countries kicked Russian banks out of the dollar payment system and confiscated the personal property of Russian citizens， which completely deviated from the sense of rules and spirit of contract that they had long advocated. On the one hand， the US smears China by accusing it of exercising economic coercion against other countries， on the other hand， it resorts to “building small yard， high fence”， “parallel systems” or “friend sourcing”， which have greatly undermined the global free trade order. On issues such as nuclear non-proliferation， cyber-security and climate change， Western countries can hold completely different policy positions in light of different situations， targets and needs. As a contrast， the GSI rejects the outdated concepts of zero-sum game and bloc confrontation， and emphasizes the relativity， dynamics and indivisibility of security， making it a fundamental way to achieve lasting peace and universal security.

The Rationale for the GSI

In the face of the complex and grave security situation， President Xi Jinping put forward the GSI bearing in mind the existence and prosperity of all mankind， and laid out the concept， principles， contents， path and goal needed to achieve global security.

First， it is based on the new security concept featuring win-win cooperation. Different from the Western countries traditional security concept that is petty， absolute and alliance-based， the GSI advocates a new security concept with win-win cooperation at its core， so as to achieve universal， common and cooperative security for the world. Firstly， universal security prevails over petty security. Mankind lives in an interdependent security community that shares weal and woe. No one can achieve security on its own， nor through self-isolation. The GSI emphasizes that countries should adopt the sense of community with a shared future， stay open and inclusive， and pursue universal security through coordination and mutual assistance. Secondly， common security surpasses absolute security. Countries must realize that the security interests of all countries are equal and indivisible， and one cannot pursue its own security without accommodating the legitimate concerns of others， still less at the expense of others security. Thirdly， cooperative security supersedes alliance security. Alliance security is exclusive and confrontational， which will not only fail to bring security in the true sense， but tear the world further apart. Cooperative security opposes zero-sum game， pursues consensual understanding on security and shared interests， and promotes global security governance through a security partnership featuring equality and mutual trust.

Second， it takes sovereign equality and multilateralism as basic principles. Global governance must follow universally recognized norms governing international relations， and sovereign equality and multilateralism are the two major underpinnings of it. Sovereign equality is the cornerstone of modern international relations and the most important norm governing state-to-state relations for centuries. All countries， big or small， rich or poor， strong or weak， have equal sovereignty. History and reality have repeatedly shown that once sovereign equality is undermined or trampled on， the law of the jungle will prevail， and the security of all countries will not be guaranteed， let alone the establishment of a stable and just world order. Multilateralism is an important guideline for handling international affairs and an innate requirement for the democratization of international relations. Global security is not a matter of one country or one region， instead， it concerns the survival and development of human society and must be maintained through equal participation and extensive consultation among international members. To live out multilateralism in true sense， we must earnestly safeguard the authority of the UN and abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in a full and complete way. We must oppose the hegemonic governance by a particular one or several parties， and expose and criticize all forms of unilateralism and “pseudo-multilateralism” in different guises.

Third， its main content is to maintain comprehensive security. At present， national security has covered a much larger framework of time， space and areas. Security is becoming ever more complicated， calling for a coordinated response. Firstly， coordination between traditional and non-traditional security. It is difficult to separate traditional and non-traditional security issues， as the two are often intertwined and interconnected. Instead of dealing with one or the other in a static， one-sided or isolated manner， we must adopt a systematic thinking and comprehensive approach. Secondly， coordination between national and global security. It is important for a country to achieve development， ensure peoples well-being， and advance its national strategies and public policies through safeguarding its own security. Yet， a country cannot have security if only this sole country has it. National security must be conditioned and based on global security. On the one hand， all countries should abandon the outdated mentality of beggar-thy-neighbor， actively participate in global security governance， and better ensure their own security by jointly building a world of universal security. On the other hand， countries should attach great importance to the expansion and penetration of security issues in different spaces， so as to avoid the spillover of internal security issues and prevent global security issues from evolving into domestic risks. Thirdly， coordination between present and future security. Global security governance should not only address security issues at present， but also take into account the long-term and dynamic nature of security. We should make more forward-looking research and assessment of the global security situation， and better balance the present and future by taking a strategic and holistic approach.

Fourth， it sees peaceful dialogue and consultation on an equal footing as the path to materialize security. The GSI advocates that differences and disputes among countries shall be dealt with through dialogue and consultation， not in a simple sense， but rather， in a way that is problem-oriented， based on mutual respect， and aims to coordinate different interests and solve problems. The first is to build mutual trust through dialogue. Through extensive dialogue， countries can understand each others strategic intentions and policy bottom line， strengthen mutual understanding and connection， and thus provide necessary foundation of trust for the settlement of international disputes. The second is to build consensus through dialogue. Only by reaching basic consensus on major issues such as security threats and security concepts can the international community achieve common security through building mechanisms and strengthening cooperation. The third is to resolve disputes through dialogue. Practice has fully proved that， it is never a good way to resolve disputes by easily resorting to sanctions， deterrence or even war. Only through dialogue and consultation can we find a balance of interests acceptable to all， so as to bridge differences and end conflicts.

Fifth， it aims to fulfill the vision of building a community of security for mankind. Besides solving security issues in near and practical term， global security governance aims to build a balanced， effective and sustainable community of security in the long run. The first is to form a balanced security architecture. The security of one country cannot be at the expense of the legitimate security needs of others， and regional security cannot be guaranteed by forging military alliances and continuously expanding them. Only by upholding the principle of indivisible security and taking into account the reasonable demands and security concerns of all parties can we achieve a relatively balanced security structure and distribution of interest. The second is to enhance the effectiveness of security mechanism. To start with， we must strengthen the authority and adaptability of the mechanism， reduce its bureaucracy and over-staffing， collect sufficient and high-quality public goods， and put forward a governance plan with strong binding force. In addition， it is necessary to strengthen the docking and integration of different mechanisms to form a strong synergy for joint participation in global security governance. The third is to ensure security sustainability. Sustainable security refers to that we address current security issues in a way that is not at the expense of long-term security， and that we resolve international disputes and conflicts and concurrently strengthen the institutional building of global security.

The Approach to Deliver the GSI

By proposing the GSI， China offers its solution to make up for the peace deficit and safeguard common security of the world. Ideas lead to action， and action charts the course of future. As the advocate of building a community with a shared future for mankind， China has vigorously promoted the delivery of the GSI， thus making its unique contributions to global security governance and world peace.

First， we need to strike a balance between development and security to consolidate the foundation of global security. As many security problems in todays world can find their root cause in development， the key to solving them naturally lies in development. On the one hand， China is committed to providing the world with new opportunities through its own new development. Over the past decade， China has contributed more than 30% to world economy on average annually. At present， the Chinese economy is undergoing a full recovery after the COVID pandemic. Its complete industrial system， vast domestic market， high-quality labor force and strong innovation capability will continue to support high-quality economic development and contribute to the recovery of the world economy. On this basis， China is committed to advancing high-level opening-up， deeply participating in the reform of global economic and financial governance， and promoting economic globalization that is inclusive and beneficial to all. On the other hand， China has been practicing the Global Development Initiative （GDI） for the benefit of inclusive and sustainable global growth. China has set up the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund， established the Global Development Promotion Center， held High-level Dialogue on Global Development， and promoted the expansion of the GDI projects. China has actively engaged in international development cooperation and provided support to the best of its ability to other developing countries， which has greatly enhanced their capacity for independent development. These practical measures demonstrate Chinas willingness to shoulder responsibility in solving global development problems and help promote sustainable security through sustainable development.

Second， we need to encourage talks for peace in order to resolve security disputes. China is committed to handling disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests with relevant countries through negotiation and consultation. China has participated extensively in UN peacekeeping operations. Over the past 30 years and more， China has assigned more than 50，000 personnel to more than 20 countries and regions for UN peacekeeping operations， becoming a key force in UN peacekeeping. In the face of complex and intractable international and regional security crises， China has engaged in diplomatic mediation， encouraged dialogue and consultation， advocated political settlement， and played a constructive role in resolving the Iranian and Korean nuclear issues and easing tensions in Afghanistan. On the issue of Ukraine， China stressed that it respects the sovereignty and security concerns of all parties， calls for an end to unilateral sanctions that will only make the situation worse， and encourages all parties to return to the right track of peace negotiations. Regarding the Middle East， China has facilitated the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran， making significant contribution to regional peace and stability. Since the outbreak of the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict， China has adhered to fairness and justice by supporting the UN resolution on ceasefire， attending the extraordinary video summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue held by the BRICS leaders， chairing the UN Security Councils emergency open meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict， and strengthening communication and coordination with the international community， including the Arab and Islamic countries. China have done its part to its utmost to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Third， we need to focus on strategic communication and assume responsibility as a major country for global security. Major countries bear special responsibility for maintaining world peace and can play a greater role in resolving international disputes. In recent years， the US has engaged in strategic competition with China， as it regards China as a “major competitor” and a “serious long-term challenge”， adding complexity and difficulty to China-Us relations. In response， China has stayed mindful of worst-case scenarios and vigorously fought back against US strategic provocations， containment and repression. At the same time， China has maintained multi-level exchanges with the US， engaged in dialogues with it in order to clarify concerns， properly handle differences and effectively manage conflicts. China attaches particular importance to reviewing its relations with the US from a broad perspective of global governance， emphasizing the role of both sides in maintaining world peace and stability. In fact， China-US cooperation in addressing global security challenges can not only help to pool global consensus and play an exemplary role in advancing global security governance， but also clear up doubts and build trust， providing an important opportunity to ease the structural tensions between the two countries. In addition， China unswervingly follows a new path of state-to-state relations featuring partnership rather than alliance. China strives to build a global partnership featuring equality， openness and cooperation， strengthens communication and cooperation with the EU， Japan and emerging countries， and endeavors to gather steams for global security governance.

Fourth， we need to strengthen institutional building and improve security governance system. China focuses on institutional building whilst its participation in global security governance， in order to provide institutional support for the ever-growing global security issues. China firmly upholds the central role of the UN and support the UN Security Council in enhancing its authority and effectiveness in taking the major responsibility to maintain international peace and security. On this basis， China has actively engaged in the development of regional and sub-regional security mechanisms. It has promoted the expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in terms of its membership and functions， strengthened the security dialogue of the BRICS cooperation mechanism， and advanced regional Belt and Road cooperation in security field. In terms of specific security issues， China has participated in arms control and disarmament process， acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other international conventions， helped in improving the international cooperation mechanism against terrorism and transnational crimes， and facilitated the rule-making in maritime， polar， space and cyber and other emerging security fields. Looking ahead， China will continue to push the international security mechanisms to be more adequate， effective and fair in addressing global security issues， so as to ensure that different actors can enjoy equality in terms of right， opportunity and rule.

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Liu Shiqiang is Vice Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics