**: People's **Overseas Edition.
On 12 December 2023, the UN General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The picture shows the voting site of the meeting. Photo by Roy Felipe (Photo courtesy of the United Nations, Xinhua News Agency).
On November 27, 2023, in Cairo, Egypt, humanitarian supplies provided by China to the Gaza Strip are loaded and waiting to be shipped. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sui Xiankai.
On August 23, 2023, the 15th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The picture shows the exterior of the venue. Photo by Weng Qiyu (People's Vision).
On July 22, 2023, the Chinese Navy's hospital ship Peace Ark left the port of Tarawa after completing its visit to Kiribati. Photo by Gui Jiangbo (Xinhua News Agency).
Security issues have a bearing on the well-being of the people of all countries, on the noble cause of world peace and development, and on the future and destiny of mankind.
In 2023, the world will experience complex security challenges: the protracted Ukraine crisis, the resurgence of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the recurrence of regional security hotspots, and the intertwining ......of various traditional and non-traditional security threatsAt the same time, global climate change poses more risks: the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon, the new low water level of the Panama Canal, the continued flooding in the "Horn of Africa", and the serious challenges to food security, energy security, and water security.
In 2023, the world will usher in opportunities for peace and development: in April, there was a "wave of reconciliation" in the Middle East, and the regional peace process made positive progressIn July, the SCO was re-enlarged, injecting positive impetus into maintaining world peace and stabilityIn August, the BRICS family expanded its membership and issued a strong "BRICS voice" to the international communityIn October and December, the UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions calling for an immediate humanitarian truce and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the ...... of humanitarian access channelsThe international community's pursuit of peace and stability has not changed, and the call for peace and development has become stronger, and the aspirations for fairness and justice have become firmer.
In the face of the chaotic international situation, what kind of "dangers" and "opportunities" will global security experience in 2023?
Interviewee: Cui Hongjian, Professor of the Institute for Advanced Study of Regional and Global Governance, Beijing University of Foreign Chinese.
Chen Xiangyang, Director of the Office of the Center for Overall Studies and a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
Zhong Feiteng, a researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Research Office of Major Power Relations.
Q: At present, the world is under the haze of geopolitical tensions, with frequent crises in the global energy and food security sectors, and emerging challenges in emerging areas such as cyber security and AI governance ...... risingWhat is the grim situation facing global security in 2023?
Cui Hongjian: In 2023, the global security situation will be complex and volatile, with three risks and challenges: First, local conflicts and turmoil are frequent, and the impact on regional security will intensify. At present, the crisis in Ukraine has not been resolved, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has restarted, and the international community is worried about the emergence of a "chain of conflict", which will trigger a wider range of conflicts and security issues. Second, the correlation between traditional security and non-traditional security is closer. The spillover of geopolitical conflicts has triggered crises in energy, food and other fields, and its impact is not limited to individual countries and regions, but has a global effect. Third, the boundary between internal and external security tends to be blurred, and external security problems are transmitted to risks, leading to internal security problems. Taking the Middle East as an example, the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has catalyzed hatred and contradictions between different ethnic groups in Europe and the United States, leading to the further rise of populist and xenophobic forces, which has had a negative impact on the internal security of these countries.
Chen Xiangyang: At present, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. In 2023, the global security situation fully reflects the characteristics of "turbulent change", and the turbulent international security environment is intertwined with the accelerated reform of global security governance, among which turbulence is particularly prominent.
First, non-traditional security issues are emerging one after another, and the global security landscape is becoming more complex. Issues such as biosecurity, climate change, cybersecurity, and terrorism have emerged one after another, and challenges such as artificial intelligence security and ecological security are particularly prominent. Second, among the traditional security issues, regional conflicts have increased markedly and intensified. Local wars continue in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and other regions, and regional security governance has a long way to go.
In this context, the international security landscape has undergone profound adjustments: from the perspective of risks and challenges, non-traditional security and traditional security are intertwined and superimposedFrom the perspective of international power comparison, the emerging powers and the "Global South" have increased their discourse;From the perspective of governance subjects, the influence of non-state actors such as enterprises is gradually emerging, and this phenomenon is especially significant in areas such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Zhong Feiteng: In 2023, there will be many threats and challenges in the field of global security: First, the linkage of geopolitical events has been significantly enhanced. In the past, regional conflicts and disputes were relatively isolated, but now they are more closely interrelated, and the contradictions and interests of all parties are becoming more and more complex, and the great power game behind them is becoming increasingly fierce. Second, the intertwining interests of major powers have made it more difficult to resolve the conflict politically, and the conflict has been dragged on for a long time. Third, in the context of intensifying security challenges and risks, the traditional international security governance mechanism and paradigm have been challenged, and the effectiveness of the security governance mechanism has been questioned. Fourth, geopolitical tensions have had an impact on the stability of the global market order, and the uncertainty of the global energy and food markets has become more prominent than ever. Fifth, climate change has led to frequent extreme weather, posing a threat to global development and stability.
Overall, the changes in the world, the times and history are unfolding in an unprecedented way, and it is necessary for the international community to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the root causes, trends and destructive power of new developments in the field of security.
Q: In today's world, the international balance of power has been profoundly adjusted, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and the Cold War mentality and bloc politics are revival. In 2023, what uncertain, unstable, and insecure factors will lead to a severe global security situation?
Cui Hongjian: In 2023, the global security situation is complex for three reasons: First, the current international order is undergoing profound changes, and the role of existing international mechanisms in providing public goods and ensuring regional security has weakened, resulting in an increasingly prominent global security governance deficitSecond, the fierce competition among major powers and the Cold War mentality and hegemonic mentality of certain countries have become the deep-seated reasons for the turmoil in the world today and the general decline in the sense of security of all countriesThird, the imbalance between security and development is becoming more and more serious. If the world fails to advance the theme of development, any security problem could trigger a humanitarian crisis on a larger scale. An effective response to the global security dilemma can be achieved only if development issues are prioritized and the distribution issue is properly addressed in the development process.
Chen Xiangyang: There are two reasons for the rise in uncertainty and instability in the global security situation: First, some countries have blindly intensified competition among major powers, seriously disrupting cooperation in global security governance, leading to a weakening of mutual trust among major countries, an intensification of regional arms races, a rise in regional hotspots, and an increase in security challengesSecond, some countries have bucked the tide in their security concepts and policies, clinged to the old security concept of zero-sum games, engaged in foreign interference, and manipulated bloc confrontation, resulting in a vicious circle of regional conflicts and aggravating the security dilemma.
Zhong Feiteng: Looking back at history, every round of cyclical changes in the international political order is accompanied by a profound adjustment of international forces, and will lead to contradictions, conflicts and conflicts.
In recent years, some countries have been keen to promote great power games and bloc confrontations, which have brought about major changes in the world situation, international order and geopolitical landscape, and given rise to global crises. At the same time, as individual major countries continue to weaken their international responsibilities and obligations, pursue unilateralism and protectionism, engage in ideological confrontation, and encounter headwinds and obstacles to multilateral coordination and cooperation mechanisms, the risk of terrorism, proliferation, disease spread, transnational crime and other problems has increased globally. This phenomenon is especially evident in 2023.
Q: Global security challenges are complex and intertwined, but the international community's pursuit of peace and stability remains unchanged. In 2023, what measures will the international community take to respond to global security issues and turn "crises" into "opportunities"?What are the results?
Cui Hongjian: In 2023, the international community worked together to address global security challenges and achieved a number of results. In the face of conflict, the United Nations and relevant international agencies seek to play a greater role in preventing conflict spillover, mitigating direct harm caused by conflict, protecting civilians, and ensuring food and energy. For example, on October 27, the United Nations General Assembly passed a draft resolution on Israel and Palestine by a large majority at its emergency special session. The draft, which was introduced by more than 48 countries, including Jordan, includes calls for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce and the immediate provision of basic goods and services to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip. On 12 December, the United Nations General Assembly once again adopted an overwhelming majority resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The resolution was co-sponsored by Arab countries and co-sponsored by more than 100 countries, including China.
At the same time, in the face of conflicts and disputes, most countries, especially those in the Global South, have not blindly chosen sides, but have insisted on development and cooperation. This fully shows that conflict, confrontation, containment and decoupling run counter to the trend, and that peace, development, cooperation and win-win results are the aspirations of the people.
Chen Xiangyang: In 2023, the expansion of the BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important chapter in the various explorations and practices of the international community to promote lasting peace and common development.
On August 24, the 15th BRICS Summit announced that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Iran and Ethiopia would be invited to officially become members of the BRICS family. On November 21, the BRICS leaders held a special summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. This is the first summit after the BRICS expansion. Under the current circumstances, it is very timely and necessary for the BRICS countries to raise the voice of justice and peace on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. The continuous development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism will further promote the unity and self-reliance of emerging market countries and developing countries, and make greater contributions to world peace and development.
Zhong Feiteng: In 2023, developing countries will step up efforts to "huddle together for warmth" and strengthen their response to security challenges. Multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS cooperation mechanism, the "China + Five Central Asian Countries" and the relevant mechanisms for East Asian cooperation have actively carried out exchanges and cooperation in the field of security, and played a positive role in promoting regional and world peace and stability.
For example, the ASEAN-centered regional security cooperation mechanism and framework carry out consultations and exchanges in an ASEAN-style manner based on consensus and accommodating the comfort of all parties, which has promoted security dialogue and communication among countries in the region. In the second half of 2023, the 43rd ASEAN Summit, the 26th ASEAN-China-Japan-ROK (10+3) Summit, the 18th East Asia Summit, and the 21st East Asia Forum were held one after another, with dialogues on issues such as regional stability and development.
ASEAN countries have strengthened solidarity, cooperation, and spoken out together, while using multilateral cooperation mechanisms to provide a stage for all parties to exchange views, which has played a role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Q: In 2023, what contribution did China make to improving global security governance?What kind of opportunities do they provide for promoting world peace and development?
Cui Hongjian: In 2023, China has made remarkable efforts to continuously implement and implement the Global Security Initiative, setting a good example for the international community.
In international security affairs, China has always acted responsibly, conscientiously fulfilled its international obligations and commitments, firmly supported multilateralism, actively carried out international cooperation, and made important contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security and global strategic stability.
China stands for the peaceful settlement of differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation. On regional hotspot issues, China has always been committed to promoting peace talks and playing a constructive role in promoting the peaceful settlement of regional hotspot issues. This year, China issued documents such as China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, China's Position on Afghanistan and China's Position on the Settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, firmly standing on the side of peace. China's successful mediation of reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran has set an example for countries in the region to resolve conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation and achieve good-neighborliness and friendship. Since the outbreak of a new round of conflict between Palestine and Israel, China has actively communicated and coordinated with all parties concerned, dispatched special envoys to visit countries in the region, and provided humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian Gaza Strip as soon as possible, so as to de-escalate the situation, prevent the expansion of the war, avert humanitarian disasters and create conditions for a political settlement.
Chen Xiangyang: In 2023, China's mediation of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran will bring about a "wave of reconciliation" in the Middle East. With the support of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran held a dialogue in Beijing in March. Saudi Arabia and Iran reached the Beijing Agreement, and China, Saudi Arabia and Iran signed and issued a joint statement, announcing that Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations and carry out cooperation in various fields. The fact that Saudi Arabia and Iran shook hands and agreed to resume diplomatic relations fully demonstrates China's role as a promoter of security and stability in the Middle East, a partner for development and prosperity, and a promoter of unity and self-reliance, and demonstrates China's responsibility as a major country.
At the same time, China attaches importance to playing a constructive role within the framework of the United Nations and multilateral organizations, and contributes its solutions to global and regional security governance. China's presidency of the UN Security Council in November 2023 has held more than 30 meetings and adopted seven resolutions, including the first since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In a responsible and constructive manner, China works with the members of the Security Council and Member States to focus on key issues, enhance solidarity and cooperation, maintain fairness and openness, be proactive and promising, and strive to fulfill its responsibilities and promote the Security Council to play its due role.
In addition, at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in October 2023, China released the Global AI Governance Initiative, advocating that countries should strengthen information exchange and technical cooperation in AI governance, jointly prevent risks, form an AI governance framework and standards with broad consensus, and continuously improve the safety, reliability, controllability and fairness of AI technology. The initiative proposes constructive solutions to emerging security challenges such as AI governance, which is conducive to promoting the safe development and application of AI.
Zhong Feiteng: Since its inception in April 2022, the GSI has been widely welcomed and responded positively by the international community, and has been supported and appreciated by more than 100 countries and international and regional organizations. This year, relevant cooperation under the framework of the Global Security Initiative (GSI) has made steady progress.
In February 2023, China released the Concept Paper on the Global Security Initiative, which sets out 20 key areas of cooperation under the framework of the Global Security Initiative, including promoting the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, peacekeeping operations under the framework of the United Nations, safeguarding the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and the process of conventional arms control, as well as non-traditional security areas such as climate change, information, biology, outer space, artificial intelligence, and public health. In response to the most prominent and urgent security concerns of the international community, the Concept Paper puts forward concrete action plans, demonstrating China's responsibility and courage to safeguard world peace and global security, and once again demonstrating that China is willing to work with all parties to address the various security risks and challenges facing mankind. (Reporter Lin Zihan).
People's ** Overseas Edition (December 30, 2023 Edition 06).