Understanding China’s global security initiative

Solly Rakgomo | Monday March 6, 2023 06:00

This initiative is officially meant to uphold the principle of indivisible security, build balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture and oppose the building of national security on the basis of insecurity in other countries.

The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, which was officially released by China some few days ago, expounds the core ideas and principles of the GSI, identifies the priorities, platforms and mechanisms of cooperation and demonstrates China’s sense of responsibility as an influential global power for safeguarding world peace and firm resolve to defend global security.

It must be understood that in the contemporary era, security has become a burning issue bearing on the future of the world and most importantly the survival of humanity.

This is rightly pointed out in the Concept Paper that today’s world is very unstable characterised by changes unseen in a century evolving very fast, with intensification of major-country competition, escalation of geopolitical conflicts, lagging behind of the global security governance system and the continuous flaring up of both nontraditional and traditional security threats. This means that all member states in the global community are confronted by multiple risks as well as challenges rarely seen in history and the human society faces multiple security dilemmas like never before.

Faced with an array of security threats and challenges, the GSI in its pursuit for long lasting global peace and security among a community of states lays out 20 priorities of cooperation, all highly action-oriented and summarised as follows: Upholding the United Nations’s central role in security governance, which emphasises the safeguarding of the authority of the UN through supporting its efforts to prevent war and conflict, developing the peace-building architecture and promotion of post-war reconstruction and in playing a bigger role in global security affairs, promoting coordination and sound interactions among major countries where these countries take the lead in upholding equality, cooperation and the rule of law. This then will ensure that hegemonic, bullying and domineering practices are rejected and joint efforts made to build a framework of major-country relations featuring peaceful co-existence, overall stability and balanced development, facilitating peaceful settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue where support is extended to the parties involved to settle their disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation.

This means the international community should speak up for justice, cool down hotspots and deflate tensions, tackling traditional and non-traditional security challenges as it is important to promote global strategic stability, oppose arms race and defuse nuclear war risks. Combined efforts are needed to fight COVID-19, combat terrorism and safeguard data security, bio-security and the stability of supply and scientific and technological chains and most importantly strengthening the system and capacity for global security governance where a security governance architecture featuring coordination among governments and international organisations and participation of non-governmental organisations should be developed to promote security.

From these priorities of cooperation, it can be safely argued that the GSI is an aspiration that seeks to achieve a long lasting global peace which a community of nations in the international system can enjoy not only a peaceful co-existence but a stable external environment where their people can enjoy a happy life with their rights guaranteed. The Initiative calls for countries 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.

As a way to realise these visions, China promises that it is ready to conduct bilateral and multilateral security cooperation with all countries and international and regional organisations under the framework of the GSI and actively promote coordination of security concepts and convergence of interests. In the Concept Paper, China calls on all parties to carry out single or multiple cooperation in all aspects so as to pursue mutual learning and complementarity and to jointly promote world peace and tranquility.

For many African countries such as Botswana, it is important to note that the GSI calls for support of the efforts of African countries, the AU and sub-regional organisations to resolve regional conflicts, fight terrorism and safeguard maritime security. In addition, the initiative calls 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. This is very important because almost all the regions in the African continent are afflicted with a plethora of security threats and challenges, notably violent extremism terrorism, transnational crime and maritime insecurity.

So, this is a much needed security initiative that needs to be tapped especially in capacity building to better position African nations to address African problems in the African way and promote peaceful settlement of hotspot issues in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and other areas. Peace and security in Africa is very vital for socio- economic and political stability, so the GSI offers a window for opportunity for African countries to build more international platforms and mechanisms for exchange and cooperation on addressing security challenges in such areas as counter-terrorism, cyber-security, bio-security and emerging technologies, with a view to improving the governance capacity in the domain of non-traditional security. For example, in terms of exchanges and cooperation among university level military and police academies, African nations have the potential to benefit in capacity building as China is willing to provide developing countries with 5,000 training opportunities in the next five years to train professionals for addressing global security issues.

Last but not least, China’s 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. The Concept Paper shows that China stands ready to work with all countries and people 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.