China's Global Security Initiative Concept Paper
February 21, 2023
I. Background
The issue of security bears on the well-being of people of all
countries, the lofty cause of world peace and development, and
the future of humanity.
Today, our world, our times and history are changing in ways
like never before, and the international community is confronted
with multiple risks and challenges rarely seen before. Regional
security hotspots keep flaring up, local conflicts and turbulence
occur frequently, the COVID-19 pandemic persists, unilateralism
and protectionism have risen significantly, and traditional and
non-traditional security threats are entwined. The deficits in
peace, development, security and governance are growing, and the
world is once again at a crossroads in history.
This is an era rife with challenges. It is also one brimming
with hope. We are convinced that the historical trends of peace,
development and win-win cooperation are unstoppable. Upholding
world peace and security and promoting global development and
prosperity should be the common pursuit of all countries. Chinese
President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Security Initiative
(GSI), calling on countries to adapt to the profoundly changing
international landscape in the spirit of solidarity, and address
the complex and intertwined security challenges with a win-win
mindset. The GSI aims to eliminate the root causes of
international conflicts, improve global security governance,
encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and
certainty to a volatile and changing era, and promote durable
peace and development in the world.
II. Core concepts and principles
1. Stay committed to the vision of common,
comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. In
2014, President Xi Jinping initiated a new vision for common,
comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, which has
been widely recognized and supported by the international
community. The essence of this new vision of security is to
advocate a concept of common security, respecting and
safeguarding the security of every country; a holistic approach,
maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional
domains and enhancing security governance in a coordinated way; a
commitment to cooperation, bringing about security through
political dialogue and peaceful negotiation; and pursuit of
sustainable security, resolving conflicts through development and
eliminating the breeding ground for insecurity. We believe
security will only be firmly established and sustainable when it
is underpinned by morality, justice and the right ideas.
2. Stay committed to respecting the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of all countries. Sovereign
equality and non-interference in internal affairs are basic
principles of international law and the most fundamental norms
governing contemporary international relations. We believe all
countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal
members of the international community. Their internal affairs
brook no external interference, their sovereignty and dignity
must be respected, and their right to independently choose social
systems and development paths must be upheld. Sovereign
independence and equality must be upheld, and efforts should be
made for all countries to enjoy equality in terms of rights,
rules and opportunities.
3. Stay committed to abiding by the purposes and
principles of the UN Charter. The purposes and
principles of the UN Charter embody the deep reflection by people
around the world on the bitter lessons of the two world wars.
They are humanity's institutional design for collective security
and lasting peace. The various confrontations and injustices in
the world today did not occur because the purposes and principles
of the UN Charter are outdated, but because they are not
effectively maintained and implemented. We call on all countries
to practice true multilateralism; firmly uphold the international
system with the UN at its core, the international order
underpinned by international law and the basic norms of
international relations underpinned by the UN Charter; and uphold
the authority of the UN and its status as the main platform for
global security governance. The Cold War mentality,
unilateralism, bloc confrontation and hegemonism contradict the
spirit of the UN Charter and must be resisted and rejected.
4. Stay committed to taking the legitimate security
concerns of all countries seriously. Humanity is an
indivisible security community. Security of one country should
not come at the expense of that of others. We believe all
countries are equal in terms of security interests. The
legitimate and reasonable security concerns of all countries
should be taken seriously and addressed properly, not
persistently ignored or systemically challenged. Any country,
while pursuing its own security, should take into account the
reasonable security concerns of others. We uphold the principle
of indivisible security, advocating the indivisibility between
individual security and common security, between traditional
security and non-traditional security, between security rights
and security obligations, and between security and development.
There should be a balanced, effective and sustainable security
architecture, so as to realize universal security and common
security.
5. Stay committed to peacefully resolving differences
and disputes between countries through dialogue and
consultation. War and sanctions are no fundamental
solution to disputes; only dialogue and consultation are
effective in resolving differences. We call on countries to
strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual security
confidence, diffuse tensions, manage differences and eliminate
the root causes of crises. Major countries must uphold justice,
fulfill their due responsibilities, support consultation on an
equal footing, and facilitate talks for peace, play good offices
and mediate in light of the needs and will of the countries
concerned. The international community should support all efforts
conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises, and encourage
conflicting parties to build trust, settle disputes and promote
security through dialogue. Abusing unilateral sanctions and
long-arm jurisdiction does not solve a problem, but only creates
more difficulties and complications.
6. Stay committed to maintaining security in both
traditional and non-traditional domains. In today's
world, both the intension and extension of security are
broadening. Security is more interconnected, transnational and
diverse. Traditional and non-traditional security threats have
become intertwined. We encourage all countries to practice the
principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and
shared benefits in global governance, and work together to
address regional disputes and global challenges such as
terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity. There
should be concerted efforts to explore multiple channels, develop
a holistic solution, and improve relevant rules, so as to find
sustainable solutions, promote global security governance and
prevent and resolve security challenges.
These six commitments are interlinked and mutually
reinforcing, and are an organic whole of dialectical unity. Among
them, the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and
sustainable security provides conceptual guidance; respecting the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is the
basic premise; abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN
Charter is a primary benchmark; taking the legitimate security
concerns of all countries seriously is an important principle,
peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries
through dialogue and consultation is a must choice; and
maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional
domains is an inherent requirement.
III. Priorities of cooperation
It is our common aspiration to achieve lasting world peace, so
that all countries can enjoy a peaceful and stable external
environment and their people can live a happy life with their
rights fully guaranteed. Like passengers aboard the same ship,
countries need to work in solidarity to foster a community of
shared security for mankind and build a world that is free from
fear and enjoys universal security.
To realize these visions, China is ready to conduct bilateral
and multilateral security cooperation with all countries and
international and regional organizations under the framework of
the Global Security Initiative, and actively promote coordination
of security concepts and convergence of interests. China calls on
all parties to carry out single or multiple cooperation in
aspects including but not limited to the following ones, so as to
pursue mutual learning and complementarity and to jointly promote
world peace and tranquility:
1. Actively participate in formulating a New Agenda for Peace
and other proposals put forth in Our Common Agenda by the UN
Secretary-General. Support UN efforts to enhance conflict
prevention and fully harness the peace-building architecture to
assist post-conflict states in peace-building. Further leverage
the Secretary-General's Peace and Security Sub-Fund of the
China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund and support a bigger UN
role in global security affairs.
Support the UN in enhancing capacity for implementing its
peacekeeping mandate, uphold the three principles of "consent of
the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force except in
self-defense and defense of the mandate" for peacekeeping
operations, prioritize political solutions, and take a holistic
approach to address both symptoms and root causes. Provide
peacekeeping operations with adequate resources. Support the
provision of sufficient, predictable and sustainable financial
assistance to the African Union (AU) for it to carry out
autonomous peacekeeping operations.
2. Promote coordination and sound interaction among major
countries and build a major country relationship featuring
peaceful coexistence, overall stability and balanced development.
Major countries shoulder particularly important responsibilities
of maintaining international peace and security. Call on major
countries to lead by example in honoring equality, good faith,
cooperation and the rule of law, and in complying with the UN
Charter and international law. Adhere to mutual respect, peaceful
coexistence and win-win cooperation, stick to the bottom line of
no conflict and no confrontation, seek common ground while
reserving differences, and manage differences.
3. Firmly uphold the consensus that "a nuclear war cannot be
won and must never be fought". Comply with the joint statement on
preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms races issued by leaders
of the five nuclear-weapon states in January 2022. Strengthen
dialogue and cooperation among nuclear-weapon states to reduce
the risk of nuclear war. Safeguard the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime based on the Treaty on the
Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and actively support
the efforts of countries in relevant regions to establish
nuclear-weapon-free zones. Promote international cooperation on
nuclear security, so as to build a fair, collaborative and
mutually beneficial international nuclear security system.
4. Fully implement the resolution of Promoting International
Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International
Security adopted by the 76th session of the UN General
Assembly.
Carry out cooperation under such frameworks as the UN Security
Council's 1540 Committee, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), promote complete
prohibition and thorough destruction of weapons of mass
destruction, and build up the capacity of all countries in areas
including non-proliferation export control, biosecurity and
protection against chemical weapons.
Support the process of global conventional arms control.
Support cooperation among China, Africa and Europe on small arms
and light weapons control under the premise of respecting the
will of Africa. Support the implementation of the initiative of
Silencing the Guns in Africa. Actively carry out international
cooperation and assistance on humanitarian demining and provide
help to affected countries as much as one's ability permits.
5. Promote political settlement of international and regional
hotspot issues. Encourage the countries concerned to overcome
differences and resolve hotspots through candid dialogue and
communication. Support the international community in
constructively participating in the political settlement of
hotspots, under the premise of non-interference in internal
affairs, mainly through the means of facilitating peace talks,
with fairness and practicality as the main attitude, and mainly
following the approach of addressing both symptoms and root
causes. Support political settlement of hotspot issues such as
the Ukraine crisis through dialogue and negotiation.
6. Support and improve the ASEAN-centered regional security
cooperation mechanism and architecture, and adhere to the ASEAN
way of consensus-building and accommodating each other's comfort
level to further strengthen security dialogue and cooperation
among regional countries. Support efforts to promote cooperation
in non-traditional security areas under the framework of
Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), implement relevant cooperation
projects under the LMC Special Fund, and strive to foster a pilot
zone for GSI to jointly safeguard regional peace and
stability.
7. Implement the five-point proposal on realizing peace and
stability in the Middle East, including advocating mutual
respect, upholding equity and justice, realizing
non-proliferation, jointly fostering collective security, and
accelerating development cooperation, so as to jointly establish
a new security framework in the Middle East. Support the positive
momentum and the efforts of Middle East countries to strengthen
dialogue and improve their relations, accommodate the reasonable
security concerns of all parties, strengthen the internal forces
of safeguarding regional security, and support the League of Arab
States (LAS) and other regional organizations in playing a
constructive role in this regard. The international community
should take practical steps to advance the two-state solution to
the Palestinian question, and convene a larger, more
authoritative and more influential international peace
conference, so as to achieve a just solution to the Palestinian
question at an early date.
8. Support the efforts of African countries, the AU and
sub-regional organizations to resolve regional conflicts, fight
terrorism and safeguard maritime security, call on the
international community to provide financial and technical
support to Africa-led counter-terrorism operations, and support
African countries in strengthening their ability to safeguard
peace independently. Support addressing African problems in the
African way, and promote peaceful settlement of hotspots in the
Horn of Africa, the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and other
areas. Actively implement the Outlook on Peace and Development in
the Horn of Africa, promote the institutionalization of the
China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development
Conference, and work actively to launch pilot projects of
cooperation.
9. Support Latin American and Caribbean countries in actively
fulfilling commitments stated in the Proclamation of Latin
America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and support
the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and other
regional and sub-regional organizations in playing an active role
in upholding regional peace and security and properly handling
regional hotspots.
10. Pay high attention to the special situation and legitimate
concerns of Pacific island countries in regard to climate change,
natural disasters and public health, support the efforts of
Pacific island countries to address global challenges, and
support island countries in implementing the 2050 Strategy for
the Blue Pacific Continent. Increase the provision of materials,
funds and talents to help island countries improve their ability
to deal with non-traditional security threats.
11.Strengthen maritime dialogue and exchange and practical
cooperation, properly handle maritime differences, and work
together to tackle transnational crimes at sea including piracy
and armed robbery, so as to jointly safeguard maritime peace and
tranquility and sea lane security. Call on upstream and
downstream countries along trans-boundary rivers to actively
engage in international cooperation, resolve relevant disputes
through dialogue and consultation, ensure the safety of shipping
on trans-boundary rivers, rationally utilize and protect water
resources, and protect the ecological environment of
trans-boundary rivers.
12. Strengthen the UN's role as the central coordinator in the
global fight against terrorism, support the international
community in fully implementing the UN General Assembly and
Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions and the UN Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and jointly crack down on all
terrorist organizations and individuals designated by the
Security Council. Channel more global counter-terrorism resources
to developing countries to enhance their counter-terrorism
capacity building. Oppose linking terrorism with any particular
country, ethnic group or religion. Enhance studies on and
responses to the impact of emerging technologies on global
counter-terrorism efforts.
13. Deepen international cooperation in the field of
information security. China has put forward the Global
Initiative on Data Security and calls for joint efforts to
formulate global rules on digital governance that reflect the
will and respect the interests of all parties. Follow through on
the China-LAS Cooperation Initiative on Data Security and the
Data Security Cooperation Initiative of China+Central Asia,
jointly address various cyber threats, and work to establish a
global governance system on cyberspace featuring openness and
inclusion, justice and fairness, security and stability, vigor
and vitality.
14. Strengthen biosecurity risk management. Jointly advocate
responsible bioscience research and encourage all stakeholders to
refer to the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for Codes of
Conduct for Scientists on a voluntary basis. Jointly
strengthen the building of biosecurity capability of
laboratories, reduce biosecurity risks and promote the healthy
development of biotechnology.
15. Strengthen international security governance on artificial
intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, and prevent
and manage potential security risks. China has issued position
papers on regulating military applications and strengthening
ethical governance of AI, and stands ready to strengthen
communication and exchange with the international community on AI
security governance, promote the establishment of an
international mechanism with broad participation, and develop
governance frameworks, standards and norms based on extensive
consensus.
16. Strengthen international cooperation on outer space and
safeguard the international order in outer space underpinned by
international law. Carry out activities in outer space in
accordance with international law, safeguard the safety of
in-orbit astronauts and the long-term and sustainable operation
of space facilities. Respect and ensure the equal right of all
countries to use outer space peacefully. Resolutely reject the
weaponization of and arms race in outer space, and support the
negotiation and conclusion of an international legal instrument
on arms control in outer space.
17. Support the World Health Organization in playing a leading
role in global governance in public health, and effectively
coordinate and mobilize global resources to jointly respond to
COVID-19 and other major global infectious diseases.
18. Safeguard global food and energy security. Strengthen
action coordination to maintain the smooth operation of
international agricultural trade, ensure stable grain production
and smooth supply chains, and avoid politicizing and weaponizing
food security issues. Strengthen international energy policy
coordination, create a safe and stable environment for ensuring
energy transportation, and jointly maintain the stability of the
global energy market and energy prices.
19. Fully and effectively implement the UN Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime. Encourage all countries to
conclude or join international treaties, conventions or
agreements or make institutional arrangements to fight
transnational crimes. Support the three international drug
control conventions of the UN, safeguard the international drug
control system, and advocate coordination, shared responsibility
and sincere cooperation in the international community to jointly
address challenges posed by the drug problem and build a
community with a shared future for mankind that is free from the
harm of drugs. Actively conduct law enforcement cooperation on
the basis of respecting each country's sovereignty, so as to
jointly improve law enforcement capacity and security governance.
Support the establishment of a global training system to train
for developing countries more law enforcement officers who are
responsive to their countries' security needs.
20. Support the cooperation among countries in addressing
climate change and maintaining stable and smooth supply and
industrial chains, and speed up the implementation of the UN 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to promote
sustainable security through sustainable development.
IV. Platforms and mechanisms of
cooperation
1. Engage in wide-ranging discussions and communication on
peace and security at the General Assembly, relevant UN
Committees, the Security Council, relevant institutions, and
other international and regional organizations based on their
respective mandates, and put forward common initiatives and
propositions to forge consensus in the international community to
address security challenges.
2. Leverage the roles of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
BRICS cooperation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence
Building Measures in Asia, the "China+Central Asia" mechanism,
and relevant mechanisms of East Asia cooperation, and carry out
security cooperation incrementally to achieve similar or same
goals. Promote the establishment of a multilateral dialogue
platform in the Gulf region and give play to the role of
coordinating and cooperative mechanisms such as the Meeting of
Foreign Ministers of the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan and
the China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development
Conference to promote regional and global peace and
stability.
3. Hold high-level conferences on the GSI in due course to
strengthen policy communication in the field of security, promote
intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation, and further foster
synergy in the international community to address security
challenges.
4.Support the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, the
Middle East Security Forum, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the
Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) and other
international dialogue platforms in contributing to deepening
exchange and cooperation on security. Promote the establishment
of more global security forums to provide new platforms for
governments, international organizations, think tanks and social
organizations to leverage their advantages and participate in
global security governance.
5. Build more international platforms and mechanisms for
exchange and cooperation on addressing security challenges in
such areas as counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, biosecurity and
emerging technologies, with a view to improving the governance
capacity in the domain of non-traditional security. Encourage
more exchanges and cooperation among university-level military
and police academies. China is willing to provide other
developing countries with 5,000 training opportunities in the
next five years to train professionals for addressing global
security issues.
The GSI, following the principle of openness and
inclusiveness, welcomes and looks forward to the participation of
all parties to jointly enrich its substance and actively explore
new forms and areas of cooperation. China stands ready to work
with all countries and peoples who love peace and aspire to
happiness to address all kinds of traditional and non-traditional
security challenges, protect the peace and tranquility of the
earth, and jointly create a better future for mankind, so that
the torch of peace will be passed on from generation to
generation and shine across the world.
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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