President Xi Jinping first suggested the term of Global Security Initiative (GSI) on April 21, 2022 at the Boao Forum for Asia. It followed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI). Following the publication of a thorough document on the GSI, one can see the changing patterns in Chinese foreign policy towards the global systems. This paper, however, seeks to examine how GSI might be a helpful contribution to create a peaceful and safe global order in the area and beyond.

The first principle of the GSI emphasizes on the dedication to shared, comprehensive, and sustainable security as a whole approach that has to keep security in both conventional and non-traditional spheres. By improving world security governance through the means of collective security initiatives, the core cause of wars is supposed to be eliminated.

Respecting the sovereignty and geographical integrity of every state is the second principle. In this regard, every state across the world has equal rights to carry out their security policies in a manner that aids in the decrease of conflicts and is necessary to sustain world security in modern international relations. China is thus the first in honoring the territorial sovereignty of smaller and weaker nations, which the strong governments have historically transgressed.

By improving world security governance through the means of collective security initiatives, the core cause of wars is supposed to be eliminated.

The third principle is the will to follow the UN Charter’s ideas. For this reason, China advocates multilateralism while opposing the Cold War mindset of bloc antagonism and unilateralism. The vision of global security governance proposed by President Xi depends on the correct application of the UN Charter’s concept of preservation of peace and stability on the worldwide level.

According to the fourth principle indicated in the concept paper, China emphasized on maintaining individual security, shared security, and indivisible security between conventional and non-traditional issues, all of which combined together. The concept paper emphasizes the necessity of a balanced security architecture accomplished via a multilateral platform.

Conflict resolution via peaceful communication and consultation is the fifth pillar of the new security paradigm. By means of peaceful dialogue and enhancement of bilateral and multilateral connections, GSI provides a chance for governments to disperse tension and eradicate the fundamental cause of the conflict escalation. Concluded by China in recent past, the Saudi-Iran reconciliation is an example of how in the framework of GSI it seeks to help to the regional security.

China has sped up information technology collaboration in order to improve cyberspace governance and worldwide connectivity.

Maintaining security in both conventional (military security) and non-traditional spheres (energy security, food security, environmental security, and cybersecurity) is the last guiding concept. Security issues alter quickly in the current age of development. Apart from state and personal security, energy security is vital for the survival and growth of a state’s economy and environmental security is required for the sustainability of the worldwide ecosystem. China has sped up information technology collaboration in order to improve cyberspace governance and worldwide connectivity. China has so started the “Global Data Security Initiative” with this aim as well.

The Chinese GSI signifies a change in the global security scene. Critics of GSI contend that China is using it to offset the global influence of the United States. Another argument is that the Chinese GSI fuels division among ASEAN members. Many Asian, African, and Latin American nations depending on US help are more open to the GSI paradigm. GSI is thus seen as a possible hazard to the current unipolar global order. Thus, the western academics contend that the US should change its foreign policy to concentrate more on the models of conflict resolution and peace building.

The continuous wars and conflicts in the many parts of the world need a thorough response alternative to the GSI instead of a sporadic and reactive one. GSI presents Xi’s diplomatic vision to interact with the rest of the world, lower tensions between two strong governments, China and the US, and foster peace from generation to generation all around.