China’s The Global Security Initiative: A fresh hope for global peace and security

by Admin (Posted on November 19, 2024)

By George Musiime

At the height of the conflict in the Middle East and looking back, one cannot help but wonder what we missed. Considering the level of destruction; of human life and sustenance shines the spotlight on missed opportunities: opportunities to avoid the kind of escalation we see in the region today. Moreover, this situation might give insights into the question on Why we need the Global Security Initiative (GIS) for a safer, inclusive and prosperous world. Indeed, the Global Security Initiative concept paper, points out the need to address the ever growing deficiencies and disparities in global peace, security, development, and governance. It is these, together with unilateralism and the increasing emphasis on national interests over humanity that have exacerbated  global security crises we have on our hands today. Thus the GIS only proposes to plug these gaps to build a global community of shared future.

Nevertheless, critics purport that the GIS seeks to build a global diplomatic and security architecture to rival the United States, Teneo Asia, (2023). However, contrary to this position, the initiative is more focused on the interests of humanity regardless of where in the world they live. Moreover, it is deeply rooted in the idea that security directly bears on the well being of all citizens of the world.

Indeed, many commentators agree that the situation in the middle east could have never escalated to the present point had the well-being of all humanity been put ahead of all else. The worst part however is that after the unfortunate outburst, on October 7^th 2023 the welfare and wellbeing of both parties were not viewed the same way.  Thus the result has been an extremely volatile region born of continued negation of the concerns of one of the parties. In addition, the entire world now suffers in one way or another, whether its through upsurges in refugee numbers or disrupted supply chains among others. Therefore, by seeking to build a fair, just and equitable world, the GIS targets to address these kinds of challenges hence building a global community where all humanity thrive.

Initially proposed in 2022 by China under President Xi Jinping, the GIS came  in the spirit of achieving lasting world peace and shared prosperity where all countries can enjoy peaceful and stable external environments. It also looked to guarantee a happy living and the respect for the rights of all people irrespective of where in the world they live. To achieve this, the GIS proposed a lineup of measures on which the fifth measure stressed “political settlement of international and regional hot-spot issues.” As a matter of fact China has demonstrated its commitment by bringing before the United Nations Security Council resolutions seeking to find a negotiated and  equitable solution to the Middle Eastern conflict only to be vetoed by Israel’s allies in a show of solidarity. This some commentators have described as ‘purposeful sabotage’ of efforts to stabilize the region. Moreover, this has further  Underscored the helplessness of the UN as it remains susceptible to being used by its powerful members to achieve unilateral goals.

The question then becomes is the world that forgetful? In 1945, following  two major global conflicts in a space of thirty yeas, the world seemed determined to spare future generation the horrors and torments of war. One of the channels to obtain this was the respect for human rights and dignity for all humans in all countries big and small stipulated in the UN Charter. Meanwhile, today, pleas for peace continue to be made on behalf of the peoples of the Middle East; pleas that Palestinians be accorded what should be their fundamental rights by the spirit of the UN Charter. And what have we done about these pleas, we have continuously failed to deliver. As the region bleeds for a year now and counting, many experts agree that the cause of this bleeding are avoidable. Premised in respect of the UN Charter and putting the human cause first, the GIS proposes a novel blueprint for global peace and stability.

As I come close to the end of this essay, I’m reminded of the words of Thurgood Marshall who once pointed out that it is only “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings that we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” In light of these words, what we must ponder now should be “where justifying the right to self-defense of one over the suffering of another leaves us as rational beings!” While the need to hunt down “bad elements” might be justified, it should never become the pretext for leveling cities, causing indiscriminate suffering to the most vulnerable factions of the human society. To use the words of Mal Fletcher, “nothing is more dangerous for society’s future than having its young people grow old before their time.”

Therefore, All that Israel’s campaign in the Middle East may do is deliver a short term solution to thus question.  But in the long term, it can only create a bigger problem. A lasting solution must be a political one and this is exactly what China proposes through the Global Security Initiative. Therefore, the GIS is less about creating a global diplomatic and security architecture to rival the United States for the sake of it. Rather it is more about finding more practical redress for today’s and future global problems by building a community of shared future for mankind.

George Musiime is a research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

email: geogemusiime@dwcug.og

 

 

 

 

 

---