Global Security Initiative
The Global Security Initiative (GSI, Chinese: 全球安全倡议) is an initiative proposed by Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping during the annual Boao Forum on 21 April 2022. Officially, the initiative is meant to "uphold the principle of indivisible security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and oppose the building of national security on the basis of insecurity in other countries."[1]
The GSI has received promotion alongside two related initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), which were introduced in 2021 and 2023, respectively.[2]
Concept
The new security concept is part of the background for the GSI.[3]: 132
The GSI identifies six commitments: (1) common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security; (2) respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; (3) abiding by the purpose and principles of the UN Charter; (4) taking the security concerns of all countries seriously; (5) peacefully resolving disputes between countries through dialogue; and (6) maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional fields.[4]: 158 The principles outlined by the Global Security Initiative are long-standing elements of China's security policy.[4]: 158
History
The GSI was announced during the 2022 Boao Forum for Asia.[5][6][7][1][3]: 132
Articulations of the Global Security Initiative have included little operational detail.[4]: 158 It has been described as a "concrete manifestation" of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.[8]
China issued a further statement of the initiative, outlining principles, priorities and platforms, in a concept paper on 21 February 2023.[9][10] The GSI has since sponsored the Global Public Security Co-operation Forum to become China's largest international security event, showing various technologies used in mass surveillance.[11]
Reception
Analysts have described the GSI as a way of increasing China's global influence.[6][5][11] In terms of temporality, it represents a forward-looking initiative, while simultaneously being firmly rooted in long-established principles of Chinese foreign policy.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b "China's Xi Proposes Global Security Initiative". The Diplomat. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ a b Puranen, Matti; Chen, Julie Yu-Wen (2025). Chinese Vision for a Durable Security Order in an Era of Great Power Competition: The Global Security Initiative. In Veera Laine, Matti Puranen and Ville Sinkkonen (eds.) The Tragedy of Competing International Orders? Visions of Key Powers in an Age of Global Contestation (1st ed.). Abingdon: Routledge. pp. 40–51. ISBN 9781003562306.
- ^ a b Zhang, Chuchu (2025). China's Changing Role in the Middle East: Filling a Power Vacuum?. Changing Dynamics in Asia-Middle East Relations series. Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-76275-3.
- ^ a b c Shinn, David H.; Eisenman, Joshua (2023). China's Relations with Africa: a New Era of Strategic Engagement. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-21001-0.
- ^ a b "China using Global Security Initiative to build military standing in Africa". South China Morning Post. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ a b Greitens, Sheena Chestnut (3 October 2022). "Xi Jinping's Quest for Order". Foreign Affairs. ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "Analysis: Xi floats 'global security initiative' with eye on Pacific". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ Curtis, Simon; Klaus, Ian (2024). The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 198. doi:10.2307/jj.11589102. ISBN 9780300266900. JSTOR jj.11589102.
- ^ "China releases 'global security initiative'". Deutsche Welle. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper". www.fmprc.gov.cn. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b "China's creepiest export surge". The Economist. 13 November 2025. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 16 November 2025.