CHINA PRESIDENT XI JINPING PROPOSES 'GLOBAL SECURITY INITIATIVE'
0China President Xi Jinping proposes 'global security initiative'
Chinese President Xi Jinping is proposing a 'global security initiative' that upholds the principle of 'indivisible security' — a concept that means no state should strengthen its security at the expense of another nation — and is also endorsed by Russia. During a video speech to the annual Boao Asia Forum on Thursday. Mr Xi said the world should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries while paying attention to the 'legitimate' security concerns of all. 'We should uphold the principle of indivisibility of security. build a balanced. effective and sustainable security architecture. and oppose the building of national security based on insecurity in other countries.' he said. In talks over Ukraine. Russia has insisted that Western governments respect a 1999 agreement based on the principle of 'indivisible security'. China and Russia have grown increasingly close. and China has refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Instead. China has blamed the Ukraine crisis on NATO's eastward expansion. Analysts note this was the first time China had argued for 'indivisible security' outside the context of the Russia Ukraine crisis. with implications for Asia and the Pacific. Wang Jiangyu. a law professor at the City University of Hong Kong. said by evoking the concept of 'indivisible security'. which had originated in Europe. China could hope to make its actions in defence of its core interests appear more legitimate to other countries. China and Solomon Islands signed a security pact this week which raised alarm bells for both Australia and the United States. There are fears China will establish a military base in the small nation. with Defence Minister Peter Dutton warning China will not waste time expanding its presence in the South Pacific. Tensions have also been high over fears Beijing will invade neighbouring Taiwan. which it claims as its territory. 'If China deems actions by US and its allies on Taiwan or the South China Sea as disregarding its security concerns. it could evoke the concept of 'indivisible security' to claim the moral high ground in retaliation.' said Li Mingjiang. an associate professor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Mr 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 criticised Western sanctions. including those against Russia. but it has also been careful not to provide assistance to Moscow that could lead to sanctions being imposed on Beijing. Mr Xi said efforts were needed to stabilise global supply chains. but he said China's economy was resilient and its long term trend had not changed. Reuters/ABC
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