Our world is going through a special period in history. It is faced with the combined impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and major changes unseen in a century, and a heated contest between multilateralism and unilateralism. The global governance system is being readjusted in a profound way and international peace and security facing unprecedented challenges. It is in this context that President Xi Jinping, with the future of all humanity in mind, proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) for the first time at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. This Initiative gives explicit answers to questions of our times such as what security concept the world needs and how countries can achieve common security, providing important guiding principles for resolving security dilemmas faced by humanity.
The GSI stresses that we humanity are living in an indivisible security community. It has six core tenets: stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work together to maintain world peace and security; stay committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, uphold non-interference in internal affairs, and respect the independent choices of development paths and social systems made by people in different countries; stay committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, reject the Cold War mentality, oppose unilateralism, and say no to group politics and bloc confrontation; stay committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously, uphold the principle of indivisible security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and oppose the pursuit of one’s own security at the cost of others’ security; stay committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises, reject double standards, and oppose the wanton use of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction; stay committed to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains, and work together on regional disputes and global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity. These six tenets not only demonstrate macro thinking of top-level design, but also contain micro perspective of solving practical problems. They chime with the shared aspiration of the international community for peace, cooperation and development.
We in China always believe that one should practice what he advocates. In this spirit, China is not only putting forward the GSI, but also taking earnest actions in its implementation. As a responsible major country, China has always held high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and preserved world peace and security. The path a country chooses is always inspired by its history and culture. We in China cherish peace and stability more than anything else, because we ourselves have endured the ravages of wars and conflicts. We adhere to the independent foreign policy of peace, because we ourselves have suffered the misery of humiliation.
China has stayed committed to peaceful development, injecting positive energy into world peace. Since ancient times, Chinese people have believed in such peace-seeking philosophies as promoting harmony among all nations. Bullying others has never been part of our cultural DNA. In fact, a commitment to peaceful development has been codified into our Constitution. China respects the right of other countries to choose their own development path. For the last 70-plus years since the founding of the People’s Republic, China has never provoked a war or occupied an inch of foreign soil. However strong it may grow, China will never seek hegemony, expansion, or a sphere of influence.
China has always been a responsible country providing stability for international order. As a founding member and the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter, China has firmly safeguarded the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and upheld true multilateralism. China has been actively addressing all forms of non-traditional security challenges. By providing more than 2.1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the international community and announcing its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, China has played its part in bridging the “immunization gap” and tackling climate change.
China has been promoting fairness and justice, and put forward new ideas for global governance. From speaking up for developing countries at international fora to taking a firm stand against unilateralism and bullying, China has underscored that all countries are equal, regardless of their size, strength and wealth. China has stood against imposing one’s own will on others, interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, and the practice of the strong bullying the weak. China has believed that international relations should be more democratic, put forward global governance philosophy that emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promoted the common values of humanity.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that the world is not tranquil, and that peace needs to be protected. Asia is the common home of China and the Philippines. Maintaining peace is our greatest common interest and the most cherished aspiration of the people of the two countries. Over the past decades, Asia has enjoyed overall stability and sustained rapid growth, making possible the Asian Miracle, an accomplishment that would not have been possible without Asian countries’ commitment to dialogue and communication. However, some major countries from outside the region are going against the trend of the times, attempting to plunge countries in the region into geopolitical struggle. Asia now faces two opposite choices: should we build an open and inclusive family for win-win cooperation or go for small blocs based on the Cold War mentality and group confrontation?
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has profound implications. The facts and the choice we should make is clear: conflict and confrontation will only result in human suffering, countries humiliated and a dark future. Therefore, China’s answer is clear-cut. Peace and stability in our region does not fall into our lap automatically or come as charity from any country. Rather, it is the result of the joint efforts of countries in the region. Asia should not be seen as an arena for major-power rivalry. Asian countries should choose dialogue and cooperation over zero-sum games, openness and inclusiveness over a closed-door and exclusive approach, and exchanges and mutual learning over a sense of superiority, and make sure that we always keep our future in our own hands. We should firmly oppose dividing the region and seeking a new Cold War with the so-called Indo-Pacific Strategy or patching up a NATO-replica in the Asia-Pacific in the name of military alliance. We should cement ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, and uphold a regional order that accommodates the aspirations and interests of all parties, all in an effort to find a unique Asian way to achieve security and make Asia an anchor for world peace, a powerhouse for global growth and a new pacesetter for international cooperation.
As a Philippine proverb goes, “United, we stand; divided, we fall. (Magsama-sama at malakas, magwatak-watak at babagsak)” The spirit of “Bayanihan” is a vivid illustration of the Asian culture of communication and cooperation. Given the challenges facing humankind, we need to strengthen solidarity, not create estrangement; advance cooperation, not provoke conflicts. In this spirit, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly last year, and now the GSI, to chart the right course for the world from the two dimensions of development and security. China is ready to work with the international community, including the Philippines, to have in-depth exchange of views on the GDI and GSI, so that we can inspire each other and pool global wisdom to let the two Initiatives take root and build a prosperous, peaceful, safe and secure home together.