Abstract: The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper is an elaboration of the “Global Security Initiative” proposed by President Xi Jinping a year ago, demonstrating China's active expansion of the right to speak on international security and its leading role in maintaining world peace and promoting global security. The “global security concept” is China's core concept on global security governance in the new era, leading the way in reforming the current international security concept. Building the community with a shared future for mankind is the distinctive banner of China's diplomacy in the new era, covering the human security community and leading the reshaping of a just and equitable world order.

 

Key words: Global security Initiative, Global security concept, the community with a shared future for mankind

 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping raising the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the 9th anniversary of the “Asian Security Concept”, the predecessor of the Global Security Concept. At a time when the international community is in turmoil and the global security deficit has become prominent, China has issued the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper to promote the global security concept and the building of human security community. It fully demonstrates “China's wisdom” and “China’s commitment” to world peace and stability.

 

 

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine crisis, which has affected the international strategic security environment, the Chinese government issued the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper on February 21, 2023, which flesh-out the “Global Security Initiative” proposed by President Xi Jinping a year ago, demonstrating a new atmosphere of great power diplomacy that integrates development and security, and demonstrating China’s active expansion of its voice in international security and its leading role in maintaining world peace and promoting global security. 

 

The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper contains 5,581 words in full, including four parts: background, core concepts and principles, key cooperation directions (20, covering international organizations, major power relations, regional security, and domain security), cooperation platforms and mechanisms. The second part, namely “Six Commitments”, is the latest interpretation of the “Global Security Initiative” and also the idea and soul of the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper. These six commitments are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, and are an organic whole of dialectical unity. They are scientific, systematic, progress-oriented, and realistic.

 

First, “stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security”, which provides “conceptual guidance”. This vision of security, also known as the “global security concept”, is a “world chapter” of the holistic approach to national security, which is both internal and external. Its connotations include: 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.

 

Second, “stay committed to respecting the soveignty and territorial integrity of all countries”, which is the “basic premise”. 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. 

 

Third, “abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”, which is a “primary benchmark”. All countries should jointly 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 must be resisted and rejected.

 

Fourth, “taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously”, which is an “important principle”. 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 security rights and security obligations, and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, so as to realize universal security and common security.

 

Fifth, “peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation”, which is a “must choice”. 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. 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.

 

Sixth, “stay committed to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains”, which is an “inherent requirement”. 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.

 

 “The Global Security Initiative” was born out of necessity and has gained a lot of popularity. More than 80 countries and regional organizations have already expressed their appreciation and support for it. The core concept is the global security concept. To better implement “The Global Security Initiative” and The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, we need to fully grasp the context of the global security concept.

 

 

The “global security concept” is China's core vision of international security and global security governance in the new era. It derives from international common security in the “holistic approach to national security”, which is both internal and external. It is not only the guiding principle for jointly addressing global challenges, but also the fundamental solution for addressing regional hotspots.

 

Its predecessor was the “Asian Security Concept”. On 21 May 2014, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia in Shanghai on “Actively Establishing an Asian Security Concept and Creating a New Situation for Security Cooperation”, shortly after the “holistic approach to national security”, which includes the promotion of international security, was first proposed on 15 April 2014. Among them, common security focuses on the security of all countries and all people”; Comprehensive security covers both traditional and non-traditional security areas. Cooperative security focuses on the way to achieve security, which is different from the confrontation and exclusivity that Western powers are accustomed to. Sustainable security focuses on the goal and path of security and attaches importance to the fundamental role of development in security. The “Asian Security Concept” is comprehensive and profound. It not only points out the direction for Asian security, but also guides the way for global security. It demonstrates China's conceptual leadership and responsibility as a major country for regional and international security in the new era.

 

Upgraded to “global security concept”. On 26 September 2017, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 86th Interpol General Assembly, pointing out that the realization of common security for all countries is a necessary part of building a community with shared future for mankind, and that the promotion of peace and development begins with the maintenance of security and stability; without security and stability, there can be no peace and development. China is ready to work with other countries and international organizations to build a community with a shared future for mankind with universal security. President Xi Jinping put forward four points, including “insisting on cooperation and building together to achieve lasting security”, stressing that security issues are two-way and linked, and that it is not only undesirable to focus on the security of one country to the neglect of the security of others, but also to sacrifice the security of other countries to seek one's own so-called absolute security, which will ultimately harm oneself. It was stressed that all countries should establish a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security concept, and seek security and stability through cooperation, and promote peace and development through security.

 

The core idea of the “Global Security Initiative”. On 21 April 2022, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, emphasizing that security is a prerequisite for development and that “humanity is an indivisible security community”. The cold war mentality will only undermine the framework of global peace, hegemonism and power politics will only jeopardize world peace, and bloc confrontation will only exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century. President Xi Jinping has for the first time put forward the “Global Security Initiative”, which includes: adhering to the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and jointly maintaining world peace and security; adhering to respect for the soveignty and territorial integrity of all countries, observing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, taking into account the legitimate security concerns of all countries, resolving differences and disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation, and maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional fields in a coordinated manner. "The Global Security Initiative” is another major initiative put forward by China after the Global Development Initiative in 2021, demonstrating President Xi Jinping’s commitment to the world,” integrates development and security" at the global level and promotes the building of a community of human destiny. The Initiative is another major initiative proposed by China after the Global Development Initiative in 2021.

 

In the new era, China has not only reshaped the international security concept with its "global security concept", but also led the reshaping of the world order with its "Building a community with a shared future for mankind". Lasting peace and universal security are the important connotation of a community with a shared future for mankind.

 

 

On March 23rd, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Institute of International Relations in Moscow on the theme of “Responding to the Tide of the Times and Promoting Peaceful Development in the World”, proposing that the interconnectedness and interdependence of all countries had deepened to an unprecedented extent, and that human beings were living in the same global village, becoming more and more a “community of shared destiny” in which you have me and I have you.

 

Building a community with a shared future for mankind has since become the key word of China's diplomacy in the new era. Over the past decade, China's efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind have been consistent. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind has been written into important documents of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral mechanisms for many times. It has become a clear banner that sets the trend of the Times and the direction of mankind. 

 

Against the backdrop of profound changes unseen in the world in a century, building a community with a shared future for mankind provides an insightful answer to the major question of where the world is headed and what mankind should do, highlighting the light of truth and Chinese wisdom at a turning point in history. It demonstrates the light of truth and Chinese wisdom at a turning point in history. The vision of a community with a shared future for mankind is one that transcends conflict and confrontation with peaceful development, replaces absolute security with common security, rejects zero-sum games with mutual benefit, prevents clash of civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning, and protects the planet through green development. This is in line with the trend of the world and the aspirations of the people. The solemn proposal and persistence of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind reflects China's vigorous efforts to clear up the complicated status quo of international relations, and its leading role in the international community and its initiative in shaping the international order, which is clearly superior to the egocentric power thinking and hegemonic discourse of the United States and the West.

 

Looking back at the past decade, China put forward the initiative of building a community with a shared future for mankind, advocated the Global Security Concept, and issued the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper. The building of a community with a shared future for mankind is the top-level design and overall management, the global security concept is the embodiment of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind in the security field, and the Global Security Initiative is the implementation of the global security concept. The three are interlinked and closely related, and together they show that Chinese diplomacy in the new era is pioneering and enterprising, and that President Xi Jinping has the world in mind and takes the lead. Looking ahead, in the face of new turbulence and change in the world, China will uphold both domestic and international development, uphold and promote the global development initiative, global security initiative and global civilization initiative in a coordinated manner, riding the waves, seeking progress in a stable manner, and making unremitting efforts to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

 

(The author is director of the Office of the Center for the Study of Overall National Security Outlook and a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations)