China’s Xi proposes ‘global security initiative’, without giving details

BOAO, China, April 21 (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday proposed a “global security initiative” that upholds the principle of “indivisible security”, a concept also backed by Russia, though he gave no details of how. would. implemented.

During a video address at the annual Boao Asia Forum, Xi said the world should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, while paying attention to everyone’s “legitimate” security concerns.

“We should uphold the principle of indivisibility of security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and oppose building national security on the basis of insecurity in other countries,” Xi told the meeting on the island. of Hainan, in southern China.

In the Ukraine talks, Russia has insisted that Western governments abide by a 1999 agreement based on the principle of “indivisible security” under which no country can strengthen its own security at the expense of others. read more

China and Russia have grown closer, with China refusing to condemn Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special operation” to demilitarize the country. China has blamed the Ukraine crisis on NATO’s eastward expansion.

Analysts note that this is the first time that China has advocated “indivisible security” outside the context of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, with implications for US actions in Asia.

“If China views the actions of the United States and its allies in Taiwan or the South China Sea as ignoring its security concerns, it could evoke the concept of ‘indivisible security’ to claim moral high ground in retaliation,” said Li Mingjiang, a professor associate of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Wang Jiangyu, a law professor at the City University of Hong Kong, said that by evoking the concept of “indivisible security,” which originated in Europe, China could hope that its actions in defense of its core interests would appear more legitimate to other countries. .

Xi also reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction,” without directly mentioning the West’s punitive actions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

China has repeatedly criticized Western sanctions, including those against Russia, but has also been careful not to provide assistance to Moscow that could lead to the imposition of sanctions on Beijing.

Xi said efforts are needed to stabilize global supply chains, but also said China’s economy is resilient and its long-term trend has not changed.

Reporting by Kevin Yao in Boao and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing Written by Tony Munroe; Edited by Shri Navaratnam, Bernard Orr, Simon Cameron-Moore and Nick Macfie

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