Tag: Global Security Initiative

Global Security Initiative: Securing World Peace

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Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi.

The Global Security Initiative is one of China’s multiple International public governance resources. It was conceived by comrade Xi Jin Ping in an effort to secure world peace by trumping dialogue over duel, partnership over divisive-coalition, and mutual benefit over winner-take-all. China has always articulated its vision for the future of mankind as defined by the shared well-being of the global community.

In this, China views its security as a part of the security of the whole world and seeks not to martial military superiority over other countries as a guarantee of its security, rather it aims to ensure that all countries feel safe and respected. While certain countries seem to monopolize international affairs and build their national defenses behind walls of alliances built on military strength, China has sought multipolarity. Multipolarity should not be misunderstood as disarray or division. It speaks clearly to the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter of upholding universally recognized basic norms of international governance.

The principles expressed in the Global Security Initiative (GSI) are: Commitment to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; Commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; Commitment to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; Commitment to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously; Commitment to peaceful resolution of differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation; And commitment to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains.

Africa was keenly considered in the formulation of the principles of the GSI. China detailed ways of supporting our security in the Concept Paper that proposed the initiative in ways that empower us to independently and locally address our security challenges through the African Union and regional organizations.

One of China’s strategies to secure world peace and security is by promoting global development. The GSI is interlinked with other initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative. Many of the challenges destabilizing nations are due to underdevelopment. The struggle over scarce resources condemns countries to fight, although these conflicts sometimes may appear along lines of ethnic, religious or other forms of identity politics. But the root causes are often economic. China seems to understand well the complexity of these security challenges. Therefore, the GSI is designed to boldly confront the root causes of these international crises by encouraging combined international efforts to improve global security governance. This is where the promise for a durably peaceful world lies.

In a world of fast-paced change where not only new but much more complex security challenges emerge every day, it is important to establish mechanisms for international security cooperation. The GSI is already working to harness this cooperation in dealing with counter-terrorism, biosecurity, cybersecurity and other non-traditional domains of security. This cooperation involves exchanges in military academies, and sharing training opportunities to prepare experts who will address the world’s future security risks.

If the world is to have a sustainable security architecture, countries must view their security as indivisibly linked to the security of other countries. Israel will find it difficult to find peace unless Palestine finds peace. All countries are each other’s keepers. They should not make the mistake of pursuing national security at the expense of insecurity in other countries.

Peaceful dispute resolution is also a central feature of the GSI. China has recently spearheaded talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia which bore reconciliation. This example set in the Middle East inspired good neighborliness in that corner of the world. There are always peaceful solutions to all of the world’s security troubles. The GSI sees to it that conflicting parties always attempt these solutions. In that spirit, China has called for the de-escalation and finding of a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis; facilitated peace talks to solve the conflicts in northern Myanmar, and published a Position Paper alongside pushing the U.N. Security Council to adopt the very first resolution on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since it erupted.

Does the global security order need reform? I think yes. It needs to be changed. It is not sustainable to have one global hegemon suspended over the rest of the countries in the world as the dominance of the United States increasingly feels. A more multipolar world is desirable. If international security is national security in the global arena, then all nations deserve to feel secure in the global system. As tempting as it may be, a country with the biggest military fist should not have the final say on international matters/matters of other countries. It is unacceptable that some countries should sit on the global security table while others are merely on their menu. We need inclusive global security. The GSI promises that.

Skeptics have held that these initiatives by China are simply high-voltage propaganda platitudes through which China seeks to establish its global interests. But besides this cynicism, there have been practical fruits harvested from implementing both the Global Security Initiative as well as the Global Development Initiative. And as our president – Yoweri Museveni once remarked, if the Chinese betray the spirit in which our engagement with them has blossomed, they will face similar resistance as we served colonialists. This sentiment was equally shared by one of China’s former leaders, Deng Xiaoping. So, sorry skeptics, for now, we are good.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Development Watch Centre.

China’s Global Security Initiative is Timely to the Global Security Questions

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Alan Collins Mpewo

 

Historically, societies have been composed of both brave and timid people who have worn ideologies which if placed on an extensive social platter, the hardened principles of each individual clash. Conflict! It’s an inevitable reality that unfortunately, every society since time immemorial, has had to endure. Along the way, the said societies have always birthed ways of countering that ill. The modalities there in have both formal and high-handed. Formal through negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and reconciliation, and without much emphasis, the high hand-handiness being retaliation with reasonable, and sometimes unjustifiable force. That notwithstanding, there have been bullies in each community that has dominated this world, which informed the human race in cultivating the noble concept of security. I termed it “noble,” because while it has been misused by forces of tyranny, it has greater measure and has greater testimony of success behind it.

China’s President, Xi Jinping recently issued a Global Security Initiative (GSI) in which he called upon countries globally to harness the concept in a struggle to find better ways of solving the global insecurity epidemic. China for a couple of decades has fronted mutual respect on its international relations realm. Political correctness therefore in a concept of mutual respect becomes an abyss of destruction for already established foundations of peace and safety, since it merely undermines all efforts with the subtle aspirations of the other actors. The first core principle as highlighted in the initiative is commitment to the vision of common and sustainable security. While it’s true that the various world actors have all forms of weapons (disclosed and unknown), restraint should be the frontrunner as compared to immediate aggression. There has been an undervalue of the effects of war by numerous countries who disregard the decades that linger to go to waste while the affected people seek to rebuild that which has been destroyed, and sadly, perhaps not to be reshaped.

The accompanying principle is the respect of border territories (the inevitable lines that separate the territories that engulf us) is the harnessing of state sovereignty. The message that’s being hooted is that however strong a state is, the young and weaker nations must be granted equal respect. It goes without saying, that the foregoing principle has been the most disrespected in this century to a point that some perpetual invaders take pride in such despicable modus of operation. Staying committed to international charters like the UN Charter is the way to go altogether. This invites yet another recommendation from the same Initiative, keeping committed to the security concerns of all countries across the globe. This is informed by the fact that countries in all corners in the world deserve an equal peaceful organization which can only be guaranteed by each country being another’s keeper.

The initiative equally recognizes and is alive to the fact that sometimes peace fails and there isn’t much to it except conflict. The initiative therefore proposes that there should be a streamlined form of conflict resolution that’s established to enable all countries engaged in the conflict have an equal voice in the resolution engagements. The initiative also takes a stretch to have other countries that form part of the United Nations to take part in the reconciliation. This may be as regards creation of balance of power through consultations to make sure that all circumstances involved are ably understood and put into contemplation by the arbitrators in choosing the most appropriate methods to cause peace reigning once again.

While all has been said and done, the main priorities of this proposed form of cooperation should be propelled by jointly raising a voice against any war globally that would risk the use of nuclear warfare in a pursuit of winning war by any involved countries. History has showed that such a war is a lost war, and with the growing trends in the number of holders of nuclear weapons. Secondly, is the need to form a more robust coalition of joint forces to preserve peace broadly across the globe. This is aimed at increasing capacity for the already existent serving forces globally. This will also be through asserting that the forces shouldn’t be biased in their operations in order to serve the proper purpose for which they are formed.

GSI also makes it clear that for peace to prevail globally, we must avoid unilateralism, block formation, power politics and confrontation and that taking into consideration each other’s legitimate security concerns are key when it comes to sustainable global security.

It goes without saying that some parts of the world like Africa have for many decades been sidelined in the resolution deliberations on the UN high table, and that’s as unfair as it will always be. The initiative has raised this as a ground for possible consideration given that the continent has a unifying body, the African Union, which shows the possibilities is a single binding position on any security contentious matter, should they arise, from the bloc. The initiative isn’t blind to the Middle East question either. There have been many years of raging war, and it is probably time to take a stand on everlasting peace than the biased and ill brewed motives. By and large, the initiative contemplates and gives robust reasons for the need of cooperation in as far as global secure is concerned. It’s in sincere hope therefore, that such an amazing initiative doesn’t go to waste, as a consequence of dissent from countries expected to adopt the same.

Alan Collins Mpewo is a Lawyer and Senior Research Fellow, Development Watch Centre.

 

China’s Global Security Initiative is Good for Global Security

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By Allawi Ssemanda

Explaining that “Security is a major issue bearing on the world’s future and survival of humanity,” China’s foreign minister H.E. Qin Gang told global leaders during the Opening Ceremony of the Lanting Forum on the Global Security Initiative that; “the world today is not a tranquil place: changes unseen in a century are fast evolving, major-country competition is intensifying, geopolitical conflicts are escalating, the global security governance system is woefully lagging behind, and traditional and non-traditional security threats keep flaring up.”  Qin stressed that the challenges the world is facing today are serious that “all countries are confronted by multiple risks and challenges rarely seen in history, and human society faces multiple security dilemmas like never before.”

To address these challenges, Qin explained China’s proposal dubbed Global Security Initiative (GSI) which seeks to address global security challenges. GSI which has as of now received support from over 80 countries and regional organisation was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Boao Forum for Asia’s annual conference in April 2022. Qin contends that GSI “upholds the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, pursues the long-term objective of building a security community, and advocates a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum.”

In the released concept paper explaining the GSI, Foreign Minister Qin points out China’s proposed 20 priorities of cooperation, all highly action-oriented, Beijing believes will help in addressing security challenges the world is facing stressing that “the GSI embodies the core tenets in the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.”

If critically analysed, China’s proposal is the most ideal and practical one the world can get to address global security challenges and concerns. For example, GSI emphasises that; all countries uphold UN’s central role in ensuring global security governance by supporting the body’s efforts in prevention of wars and conflicts; calls for coordination among all major powers where all countries respect each other instead of bullying, Hegemonic and domineering practices.

Thirdly, GSI calls for peaceful settlement of issues through dialogue and consultations as a best approach in addressing hotspot issues. One can argue that other than dialogue, the other options are result into confrontation which comes with heavy costs and avoidable sufferings. In GSI, China also proposed strengthening of systems and capacity for global security governance where international organisations and non-governmental organisations would participate in in efforts meant to address global security and concerns.

Remarking that “Security is a right for all countries. It is not a prerogative of some, still less should it be decided by any individual country,” Foreign Minister Qin argued in this context explained GSI’s major aim will be “serving the interests of all and protect tranquility for all,” while calling for unity and cooperation of the international community in addressing global challenges through win-win cooperation is a sure path to development to ensure a safe world with aim of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Also, looking at the five principles Qin advocated for to implement the GSI, there is no doubt that the proposal offers the world a greater opportunity to achieve sustainable peace. For example, Foreign Minister Qin stressed importance of mutual respect among all countries where regardless of size, strength and wealth all countries are treated equally as the UN Charter notes and also ensuring “interests of all countries and legitimate security concerns of all parties should be respected.”

Secondly, observing that openness and inclusion are key in addressing global challenges, Qin stressed that GSI will remain open for all countries willing to join adding that it will work to ensure that all efforts for global peace and development will be supported.

The other principle advocated for in implementation of GSI is Bilateral and multilateral security cooperation. Qin argues that if pursued among countries around the world and in line with the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits such cooperation will contribute to a peaceful world and will enhance peaceful resolution of any hotspot issue should it arise since this will ensure that matters that concern to all are addressed by all.

The other principle proposed by Foreign Minister Qin in ensuring successful implementation of GSI is mutual benefit and win-win for all parties. As President Xi observed during the 2022 Boao Forum when he announced GSI proposal; “win-win cooperation is a sure path to development.” As an ancient Chinese philosopher once observed; “Stability brings a country prosperity while instability leads a country to poverty… Security is the precondition for development.” Therefore, as Qin noted, “principle of indivisible security should be followed in all ways. One’s own security and the common security of all should be advanced side by side by pursuing win-win cooperation that contributes to each other’s progress, and opposing zero-sum game that benefits oneself at the cost of others, to expand the converging interests among all.”

With all the above, and of course without fronting power politics while advancing global cooperation, multilateralism and respect for all sovereign countries, and listening to legitimate security concerns of all, GSI offers the world a rare opportunity of attaining sustainable peace and tranquillity which are both key to sustainable development.

China’s Foreign Ministry coming up with a concept paper on GSI at this time when the world is faced with unprecedented challenges such as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and its effects as well as other non-traditional security challenges is timely and should be backed by all peace-loving countries and leaders. This is based on the fact that peace is a perquisite for development. This means, despite living in different countries and regions, as people, we are living in an indivisible security community. Therefore, to have peace and harmony which are key for development, anything that can antagonise security must be avoided. Such may include divisionism based on selfish interests over others’ concerns. Differences like Cold War mentality, unilateralism, power politics, block formation and confrontation endanger peace and can easily wreck the global peace framework and exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century.

The author is a senior research fellow Development Watch Centre; and author of Why Africa Deserves a Permanent Seat at UNSC

President Xi’s proposed Global Security Initiative is good for sustainable peace and security

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By Allawi Ssemanda

Noting that while the world is “yet to walk from the shadow of a once-in-a-century pandemic,” Chinese President Xi Jinping in his key note address at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference noted that “new traditional security risks are already emerging. The weak and faltering global economic recovery is compounded by a widening development gap. While governance deficit in areas like climate change has hardly been addressed, new issues such as digital governance are also vying for attention.” President Xi explained that the world is facing unprecedented security challenges and consequently proposed a Global Security Initiative.

Emphasizing need to denounce power politics while calling for global cooperation, need for true multilateralism and respect for all sovereign countries, president Xi argued that the challenges the world is facing can easily be addressed if all countries work in unity stressing that “win-win cooperation is a sure path to development.” Quoting an ancient Chinese proverb that “One must not change his commitment or give up his pursuit even in the face of danger and risk.” Xi stressed that “Problems are not to be afraid of, as it is one problem after another that have driven the progress of human society. No difficulties could ever stop the wheel of history. Faced with the many challenges, we must not lose confidence, hesitate or flinch. Instead, we must firm up confidence and press ahead against all odds.”

Xi’s call for global powers to ensure global south is given arm in overcoming effects of Covid-19 pandemic and his commitment that China would continue working with developing countries in ensuring total defeat of Covid-19 is a good development worth a welcome by developing countries especially in Africa. This is because, such commitment is key for economic recovery considering devastating effects of Covid-19 pandemic which slowed economic growth projections. He called for concerted efforts in helping developing countries recover stressing that “Uneven recovery is aggravating inequality across the world, further widening the North-South divide. We should stay committed to building an open world economy…”

While empathising the need for the world to work and maintain a peaceful world, Xi quoted an ancient Chinese philosopher that “Stability brings a country prosperity while instability leads a country to poverty” adding that “Security is the precondition for development.”

Arguably, this call is spot-on. No development can take place in a place where war is ongoing. This means, despite living in different countries and regions, as people, we are living in an indivisible security community. Therefore, to have peace and harmony which are key for development, anything that can antagonise security must be avoided. Such may include divisionism based on selfish interests such as politics, promoting selfish interests over others’ concerns, power politics and big brother tendences. Indeed, he argued that differences like Cold War mentality would only wreck the global peace framework, hegemonism and power politics endanger world peace, and that bloc confrontation exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century.

To ensure peaceful co-existence and a stable world with a shared future for mankind world over, President Xi proposed a number of views for what he called  “Global Security Initiative” (GSI).

Likening countries around the globe to passengers a board same ship, president Xi called for togetherness in addressing global governance challenges. He explained that a “ship to navigate the storm and sail toward a bright future, all passengers must pull together…The thought of throwing anyone overboard is simply not acceptable. Acts to remove any single part will cause serious problems to its operation. When that happens, both the victims and the initiators of such acts will stand to lose.” While it may not be easy for countries to score in same goal post, Xi’s call is timely and spot-on. If well analysed, current global challenges be the Ukraine Crisis or the pending predicted famine or lowered economic growth and development projections emanate from Ukraine question which is nothing but a textbook example of global governance challenge. Such challenges include some countries unilateralism and excessively purse selfish interests at the expense of other states.

Xi’s call for the world to embrace global governance philosophy that emphasizes “extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, promote the common values of humanity, and advocate exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations” is equally good for humanity and global security. It is important in that, with extensive consultation, promotion of common values nations can easily negotiate and find compromise to avoid conflicts and antagonism since such would affect shared benefits.

Also, safeguarding current global governance order whose life and mandate comes from the United Nations (UN) is a safe bet for global stability and security. However, such to be achieved, global players must uphold true multilateralism, and earnestly observe existing international laws. As Xi indicated in his speech, “it is particularly important for major countries to lead by example in honoring equality, cooperation, good faith and the rule of law, and act in a way befitting their status.” This way, there is no doubt the world will be secure and avoidable sufferings such as wars will become history and mankind world over will see and enjoy a shared future.

In conclusion, Xi’s proposal for Global Security Initiative are good for global security and if supported will help the world in brining sustainable peace and stability which are key for social and economic development.

The author is Executive Director of Development Watch Centre; a foreign policy think tank.

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