Why the Global Security Initiative is important for Asia-Pacific security
Zhang Xumin, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese embassy in Singapore, explains why China believes that the Global Security Initiative espoused by President Xi Jinping at this year's Boao Forum is a framework that can help to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region and find a path for the Asia-Pacific that ensures security for all, by all, and of all.
Recently, the Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 has attracted media attention in Singapore and elsewhere.
The purpose of the GSI is to advocate a new type of security featuring dialogue, partnership and win-win results, instead of confrontation, alliance and a zero-sum game. The main idea is to take the new vision on security as the guiding principle, mutual respect as the fundamental requirement, indivisible security as an important principle, and building a security community as the long-term goal.
The GSI gives explicit answers to questions of our times such as the kind of security concept the world needs and how countries can achieve common security. It offers China's solutions for making up the peace deficit in the world and echoes the shared aspiration of the international community for peace, cooperation, and development.
The GSI proposal demonstrates China's sense of responsibility as a major country and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It is also in the shared interest of the international community.
Letting true multilateralism prevail
The GSI does not aim to change the international system with the UN at its core or the international order underpinned by international law; rather, it aims to let true multilateralism prevail and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Global security issues should be resolved by countries across the world through consultation conducted on an equal footing, rather than being determined by a single major power or any group of countries.
As President Xi Jinping noted, the various confrontations and injustices in the world today do not occur because the purposes and principles of the UN Charter are outdated, but because they are not effectively implemented.
Some people see the GSI as China's attempt to challenge the global security order dominated by some major power. This view does not stand up to closer scrutiny as the so-called global security order dominated by a single country is a false proposition. Global security issues should be resolved by countries across the world through consultation conducted on an equal footing, rather than being determined by a single major power or any group of countries.
The GSI is a timely response to the security challenges facing the world. At present, the world has yet to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, and the impact of the Ukraine crisis is spreading. Various traditional and non-traditional security threats keep flaring up. Peace and development, the theme of our times, is faced with severe challenges.
Some people intentionally misinterpret China's efforts to maintain world peace and security, and even throw mud at China.
Confronted with the crisis, some countries, instead of uniting and leading the international community in joint efforts to tackle the complex and serious security challenges, are still advocating a new Cold War and are using unilateral sanctions to engage in decoupling and erecting walls, exacerbating division and confrontation in the world.
China maintains an independent foreign policy of peace
Some people intentionally misinterpret China's efforts to maintain world peace and security, and even throw mud at China. The fact, however, is that China has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace and determines its position based on the merits of the matter.
Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, China has been committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the principle of indivisible security. It has stood for fairness and justice, and made active efforts to encourage peace talks and provide humanitarian aid. China has no geopolitical agenda on this issue. Its position and proposals can fully stand the test of international morality and history.
In the face of changes in the world, our times and history, China sincerely looks forward to working with countries in the region to act on the GSI.
For decades, Southeast Asian countries and all peace-loving countries in the region and beyond have been committed to win-win cooperation and worked hard to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region, creating the "Asian miracle" that has gained worldwide respect. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the "Bandung spirit" initiated by Asia have played an important role in scoring such achievements.
In the face of changes in the world, our times and history, China sincerely looks forward to working with countries in the region to act on the GSI.
On the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the "Bandung spirit", and by taking into account the diversity of the countries in the region and accommodating the needs and interests of various parties, we can work together to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region and find a path for the Asia Pacific that ensures security for all, by all, and of all.
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