Xi Jinping proposes a new ‘global security initiative’

The president wants the US-led alliance network to be replaced with a world order more favourable to China and Russia.

Xi Jinping, pictured in the Great Hall of the People, has repeated his opposition to what he called ‘the abuse of unilateral sanctions’. Picture: Getty Images

Xi Jinping has proposed a new “global security initiative” that would dismantle the US-led alliance network and replace it with a world order more favourable to China and Russia.

China’s leader positioned his country as a champion of the developing world and himself as a visionary world leader in a keynote speech on Thursday at China’s Boao forum delivered over video.

“Right now, changes of the world, of our times and of history are unfolding in ways like never before,” Xi said, citing the pandemic, global economic slowdown and alluding to the war in Ukraine.

“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 did not mention any country other than China directly in the entire speech, but Russia’s war with Ukraine was clearly referenced throughout.

China’s leader urged the international community to respect the “legitimate security concerns of all countries”, a phrase Beijing has repeatedly used in its defence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Xi also used one of Vladimir Putin’s signature foreign policy ideas to justify Russia’s Ukraine invasion, “the principle of indivisible security”.

The concept, as used by Russia, broadly states that the security of any state is inseparable from others in its region. Non-Russian security analysts have criticised Putin’s interpretation of it as a might-is-right approach that dismisses the security concerns of smaller states, such as Ukraine.

Xi cited Putin’s concept as a core part of China’s new “global security initiative”, underlining the strategic alignment between Beijing and Moscow.

The details of the Chinese leader’s world-spanning security proposal were vague.

And some of Xi’s recommendations seemed to be in contradiction with Putin’s war, such as the need to “oppose unilateralism” and adhere to the “principles of the UN Charter”.

But the bedrock of Xi’s global security proposal was opposition to the US-alliance network, a longstanding grievance.

While never mentioning the US directly, Xi indicated America was responsible for the current war in Ukraine — an accusation made explicitly by China’s propaganda machine for months.

“We humanity are living in an indivisible security community,” he said, again embracing Putin’s phrase.

“It has been proven time and again that the Cold War mentality would only wreck the global peace framework, that hegemonism and power politics would only endanger world peace, that bloc confrontation would only exacerbate security challenges in the 21st century.”

The “Cold War mentality” is a Communist Party phrase used to describe the US alliance network.

“Bloc confrontation” is a term China uses for US-led security groupings, such as the Quad, AUKUS and NATO, that have become increasingly concerned about China.

China’s leader repeated his opposition to what he called “the abuse of unilateral sanctions”, which have been imposed on Russia by the US, Europe and Asian partners including Australia, Japan and South Korea.

He later likened the international community to a ship, and said the world must oppose “decoupling, supply disruption and maximum pressure”.

“The thought of throwing anyone overboard is simply not acceptable,” he said.

Xi also tried to calm fears about the slowdown his strict “Covid zero” policy is causing the world’s second biggest economy.

China’s leader did not mention Beijing’s secretive new security agreement with the Solomon Islands, but he did warn countries to “not engage in double standards”.

“We need to embrace a global governance philosophy that emphasises extensive consultation,” Xi said.

“Countries, no matter their size and strength, and both in and outside the region, should all add splendour rather than trouble to Asia,” he added.

Officials from Australia, New Zealand and even the Solomon Islands opposition leader have said that they have been unable to get briefings on the scope of China’s new security pact.

Beijing has dismissed those concerns.