China’s Role in Global Stability through the Global Security Initiative

China’s Role in Global Stability through the Global Security Initiative
Hasan Dajah
Professor of Strategic Studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University

China is playing a growing role in international stability through the Global Security Initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022. This initiative comes in the context of China’s desire to reshape the international system in line with its vision of the world, which is based on respecting the sovereignty of states, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and rejecting interference in internal affairs.
The Global Security Initiative is part of a broader Chinese strategy, through which it seeks to enhance its role as a responsible global power that contributes to achieving stability and development in various regions of the world.
This initiative is based on a number of basic principles, the most important of which are rejecting the “Cold War mentality”, avoiding military confrontations, and adhering to comprehensive and multilateral dialogue to resolve differences and disputes. This approach reflects China’s belief that global security cannot be achieved through military alliances or confrontational policies, but rather through cooperation and partnership between countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect. These principles come within the framework of China’s efforts to promote peace and stability, especially in light of the major geopolitical transformations that the world is witnessing.
Although China has not traditionally been directly involved in international conflicts, the Global Security Initiative represents a shift in its foreign policy, as it seeks to play a greater role in resolving global crises. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is China’s increasing role in the Middle East and Africa, where it seeks to enhance stability through diplomatic mediation, providing development assistance, and contributing to peacekeeping operations. China also seeks to present itself as an honest broker that can work with all parties to reach peaceful solutions to crises.
In this context, the Global Security Initiative comes as part of the Chinese strategy that seeks to enhance security through development. China believes that achieving security cannot be achieved only through military force, but must be accompanied by economic and social development. From this standpoint, China is keen to promote its global development initiative in parallel with the security initiative and calls on countries to work together to address common challenges such as poverty, climate change, and epidemics.
On the other hand, China seeks through this initiative to promote dialogue between major powers, especially considering the increasing tensions between the United States and its allies on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other. China realizes that international polarization and major conflicts between major powers can lead to global instability, so it works to push the conflicting parties towards dialogue and diplomatic solutions. The Ukrainian crisis is one of the most prominent issues in which China has tried to play the role of mediator, as it called for a ceasefire and the launch of comprehensive peace negotiations, although it did not directly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China also seeks to exploit the Global Security Initiative to promote a multipolar international system, in which the dominance is not for one country or bloc. In this context, China calls for reforming international institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization, so that these institutions reflect the new balances in the international system, and allow developing and emerging countries a greater role in international decision-making. China believes that the world should be more diverse and just in managing international relations, rather than remaining under the control of traditional Western powers.
An important aspect of China’s Global Security Initiative is its focus on cybersecurity, information protection, and addressing new threats to global security in the digital age. China recognizes that cyber threats have become an essential part of modern international conflicts and seeks to build a global order based on respect for states’ sovereignty in cyberspace and preventing the use of digital technologies as a tool for achieving hegemony or interfering in the affairs of other states.
Although China seeks to play a greater role in achieving global stability through its security initiative, there are challenges facing these efforts. The most prominent of these challenges is the doubts raised by some Western countries regarding China’s true intentions. While China asserts that its initiative aims to promote global peace and security, some countries believe that China seeks through this initiative to expand its influence and advance its strategic interests. China also faces difficulty in building strong alliances with major countries that may not share its vision of the international order.
In addition, the success of China’s Global Security Initiative depends on its ability to reconcile its national interests with the requirements of the international order. Although China advocates a more just and pluralistic world, its policies in areas such as the South China Sea and Taiwan are of concern to many countries that see China’s actions as a threat to regional stability.
Therefore, China’s success in achieving its initiative goals requires it to make concessions and show greater flexibility in dealing with sensitive issues that affect global stability.
Finally, China’s Global Security Initiative is an important step in China’s efforts to strengthen its role as a responsible power in the international system. Despite the challenges it faces, this initiative reflects China’s commitment to working for a more stable and just world.