In the context of modern international politics, facing geopolitical tensions, great power competition, and increasing regional and global conflicts, the Global Security Initiative proposed by China on April 21, 2022 has become an important policy to express China’s vision for the international security order. In the past four years, this powerful initiative has been used as the basis for China’s diplomatic engagement in conflict mediation and the promotion of multilateralism, emphasizing global peace, development, and stability.
The Global Security Initiative is based on a number of core principles that China has affirmed as the basis of a new international security. 1. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. 2. Refraining from the use of force or the threat of force to resolve crises. 3. Promoting the resolution of disputes through peaceful means and negotiations. 4- Supporting multilateralism with the United Nations as the center and core of the international order. In fact, China has used mediation mechanisms through multilateral and bilateral diplomacy based on the principles of “non-interference in internal affairs” and “win-win cooperation”. China’s role in conflict mediation is demonstrated through its participation in the United Nations, offering peace proposals, hosting negotiations, and using economic influence as a tool of peace diplomacy. In fact, in resolving the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025, China played a global role and responsibility as a major regional power, respecting the common values of the region and the world, encouraging both sides (Cambodia and Thailand) to embrace and implement the principles of peacebuilding and long-term peacekeeping, and ensuring that both sides continue to discuss and cooperate as partners to rebuild mutual trust.
The United Nations plays a central role in China’s global security vision. As an early signatory to the UN Charter and as a permanent member of the Security Council, China has shown its support for multilateralism and international law. By injecting global security initiatives, China has also participated in peacekeeping missions and supported global crisis resolution through international institutions, which has made the United Nations play a key role in maintaining peace for more than 80 years. In addition, cybersecurity is also closely related to global peace and stability, as cyber attacks can affect the economy, financial system, national security and critical infrastructure. In this regard, the Global Security Initiative, now in its fourth year, has continued to encourage countries to join hands with China in cooperation on information protection, international law-making and confidence-building in cyberspace.
The world cannot deny that China’s participation in the “Global Security Initiative” over the past four years has indeed added a platform for discussion and peaceful resolution of international disputes. The international community agrees with China, which always enhances friendship and cooperation with all countries based on the “5B Principles” of peaceful coexistence and China’s commitment to multilateralism, which is a valid rule to achieve peace and development under the solid foundation of strict respect for international law, with the UN Charter as the core. However, security is not a matter of sitting idly by. We must join hands with China in loyalty and responsibility to walk the right path forward, ensuring that all parties live together in harmony and achieve win-win development.
Overall, in the four years of implementing the Global Security Initiative, China has strived to work with other countries to enhance their support for peace, multilateralism and global development through win-win cooperation. Based on peace, stability and common development, the Global Security Initiative has become the most accurate compass for expressing a common vision with China for the global security order in the 21st century, jointly carrying the banner of “building a community with a shared future for mankind.”
By: Dr. Chea Monirith | President of the Cambodia-China Development Research Association
