Combating emerging security challenges

By Xu Bu

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern about what's happening worldwide. During his Davos speech in 2019, he said, "If I had to select one sentence to describe the state of the world, I would say we are in a world in which global challenges are more and more integrated, and the responses are more and more fragmented, and if this is not reversed, it's a recipe for disaster."

Mr. Guterres established a High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism earlier this year. I was honored to be invited by him to be one of his 12 advisors. I also felt a lot of pressure from the responsibility.

As the world is undergoing profound changes and a raging pandemic unseen in a century, the international community is confronted with a grave and complex security environment. One notable phenomenon is the rise of emerging security challenges that require our close attention and collective action.

Emerging security challenges, including "cybersecurity," "health security," and "emerging technologies and security," have no less impact on humanity than war and conflict. In cyberspace, malign cyber-attacks pose acute threats to national security and international stability. In public health, the continuous coronavirus mutations aggravate the global pandemic, and the newly emerged monkeypox poses new health risks. As new technologies develop, the world is set to grapple with more unexpected security challenges in the future.

What is also worrying is that emerging security challenges are increasingly intertwined with traditional security challenges, further complicating the international security landscape. For example, the current Ukraine crisis is wreaking havoc on the world by threatening global food and energy security. Meanwhile, disinformation enabled by social media, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies are heightening geopolitical tensions.

As a result of these global changes, no country can stay aloof or unaffected. The international community must come together to find a path toward redressing the sustained deficit of global security governance.  

Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. He emphasized upholding the vision of "common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," which features dialogue, partnership, and win-win cooperation instead of confrontation, alliance, and a zero-sum approach.

We must respect all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity to ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights under the basic norm of international relations.

We must abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It is essential we practice true multilateralism and improve global security governance.  

We must take the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously so that one country's security does not come at the expense of the security of others.

We must resolve differences and disputes between countries peacefully through dialogue and consultation to build trust.

We must take a holistic approach to traditional and non-traditional security as an integral part of the cause of maintaining world peace and security.  

The Global Security Initiative is dedicated to addressing both symptoms and root causes of global security challenges toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China stands ready to work with all peace-loving countries and peoples to carry out the Global Security Initiative and carve out a path toward lasting peace and universal security.

China is committed to joining regional and international partners in contributing to a strong, balanced, and sustainable global and regional security architecture to safeguard regional security, promote regional prosperity, and enhance sustainable security through sustainable development.

Dr. Xu Bu is the President of the China Institute of International Studies.