The UN was created because the world was fed up with wars, destruction, and bloodshed. The world wanted a peaceful future, sustainable development, and the resolution of problems and differences through dialogue. Unfortunately, the UN could not eradicate wars and began to lose its grip and relevance. However, the genocide of the Palestinian, events in Venezuela, and the attack on Iran raise many questions about the future of the UN. Israel is committing genocide and attacking neighbouring countries. The US is violating international law and attacking countries without fear of the UN or any other body. The US and Israel are threatening to target schools, universities, bridges, etc., which are war crimes under international law, but they are doing so with complete impunity.
The US is also instigating its allies, as evidenced by Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference. He tried to reignite past flames by recounting Western hegemony and control over events over the last five centuries. He drew on history and glorified colonialism, exploitation, bloodshed, and a superiority complex. He presented the occupation of lands and the exploitation of resources as virtues and as a favour to the captured lands and people. He glorified the undermining of cultures and values. He claimed Western civilization’s superiority and urged that we join forces to consolidate its dominance.
These hegemonic aspirations and hawkish behaviour have plunged the world into chaos. The conflicts are spreading and growing more complex. The human cost is rising steeply, let alone the economic cost. Unfortunately, it is happening right under the UN’s nose, and the UN is watching silently. It seems the UN is merely a spectator.
In this context, the world is seeking alternatives, and China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) has emerged as one of the most prominent. The GSI’s vision is unique in holding that security is a common good, not a discrete right of the few powerful. The four pillars of the GSI, 1) common, 2) comprehensive, 3) cooperative, and 4) sustainable security. Together, these pillars provide the elements and instruments needed to help the world combat both old and new security challenges and secure sustainable peace. They also offer viable options for addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Hence, the GSI has a rationale for acceptance, as the world has entered an era of greater uncertainty and a more complex security environment due to traditional and non-traditional security threats (climate change, technology, pandemics, environmental degradation, etc.).
Since the launch of GSI, China has been working to apply these four pillars by adhering to the five principles of peaceful coexistence and the philosophy of “dialogues and development.” China is doing so to help the world address challenges and build lasting peace. China is encouraging the world to engage in dialogue to resolve its issues and differences, and the Saudi Arabia-Iran rapprochement is the most prominent example on this front. China helped KSA and Iran resolve their outstanding issues. These efforts resulted in a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They also expressed intent to revive the 1998 and 2001 agreements. The rapprochement also helped the wider Muslim community by lowering the sectarian divide. The dividend of the rapprochement was quite visible during the Iran-US war. If there had been no rapprochement, the war would certainly have engulfed the whole region and toppled the global economy.
Moreover, China has put forward solid proposals to end the Russia-Ukraine war and the Gaza genocide. China’s Peace Plan for the Russia-Ukraine war is comprehensive and addresses all key areas. It asks both parties to respect each other’s sovereignty and work for the betterment of the people. It also emphasizes building a security framework that is representative of the needs of all concerned parties. President Xi has proposed three actions to resolve the Palestinian issue, namely ensuring the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, maintaining the historical status quo of the holy sites, and addressing the needs of the people.
The most recent example is the five-point peace plan for the Iran-US war. China and Pakistan jointly devised and proposed a five-point plan to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran. Both countries emphasized the importance of dialogue and peaceful means to resolve the issues.
Simultaneously, China is investing in non-traditional challenges, including poverty, climate change, food insecurity, education, and livelihoods. China believes that without addressing the problems of the common people, sustainable peace is impossible. Therefore, China is assisting the world in addressing these challenges through various initiatives, including the Six-100 development programs, the Global Development Initiative, the South-South Cooperation Fund, and the BRI. The Six-100 programs focus on six areas: Poverty Alleviation, Ecological Protection and Tackling Climate Change, Education and Training, Agro-cooperation, Aid for Trade, and Medical Facilities. The GDI prioritizes areas of Poverty Reduction, Food Security, Financing for Development, Pandemic Response and Vaccines, Climate Change and Green Development, Industrialization, Digital Economy, and Digital-Era Connectivity. China has already invested US$28 billion under the GDI. China has also allocated US$1 billion to the South-South Cooperation Fund.
The BRI has emerged as the largest investment program. It is helping countries address challenges in infrastructure, connectivity, industrialization, energy access, digitalization, job creation, and poverty eradication. China has already invested about US$1.5 trillion under the BRI. The BRI has also mobilized US$2.49 trillion from partner countries. Trade between China and BRI partners totalled about US$3.4 trillion in 2024.
From the above discussion, it can be inferred that China is shaping a new global security framework through the GSI, supported by other initiatives, including the GDI and the BRI. The new security framework is equally focused on traditional and non-traditional security challenges. It promotes dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over a my-interest-first mentality, humanity over power, and equality over a superiority complex. It urges all to work together for common and comprehensive security. Most importantly, it gives equal weight to human needs and social development. Therefore, it is hoped that China’s new security framework will bring sustainable development and lasting peace.
