The importance of China’s Global Security Initiative in promoting security and stability in the Middle East: “an analytical reading”

Prepared by: Dr. Hiba Aloui, Teacher and Researcher at the School of International Studies, Zhengzhou University, China
21 April 2025

Preface
This period coincides the third anniversary of the Chinese President’s announcement of the global security initiative in 2022, especially that China has always affirmed its commitment to the path of peaceful development and the protection of world peace through effective dialogue and partnership, achieving benefit for all, and reaching the common victory of humanity without exception. This anniversary comes as the international community is facing increasing geopolitical and economic challenges due to the aggravation of regional and international conflicts and disputes, especially in the Middle East region, which would destabilize people and countries, and thus threaten the existence of many of them to the absence of international peace and security as a whole.
Therefore, this paper came to analyze and discuss the importance of this initiative in the ability to strengthen security and stability in the Middle East region specifically, especially that the region is going through conflicts and fateful disputes that are likely to affect the state of stability experienced by most countries, and then the threat to regional and international stability, especially since there are active international and regional forces on the international arena that support this instability by supporting allies, maintaining influence and strengthening hegemony in the region and the whole world. On the other hand, identify the characteristics and advantages of the development of Chinese-Arab relations and their implications in all fields, as well as clarifying the future prospects of the importance of the initiative and its reflection on strengthening strategic partnership relations between China and the Arab countries, which aims to achieve security, stability and prosperity in the region through cooperation and sustainable teamwork to serve the goals and aspirations of the initiative.
Objectives of the initiative
The global security initiative emphasizes commitment to the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security by adhering to the principle of respecting and protecting the security of each country, promoting cooperation, political dialogue and peace negotiations, and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. In this context, China affirms that all countries, large or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community, and therefore their sovereignty and political, social, economic and development rights must be respected.
As well as adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN charter, rejecting hegemony and enhancing influence, and seriously striving to achieve the principle of multilateralism to protect the rule of law and international fairness towards all outstanding issues. And also to take seriously and fairly the legitimate security interests of all countries, so China stressed that the security of one country should not be guaranteed at the expense of the security of others, and any country, in pursuit of its own security, should take into account the security interests of other countries.
In addition, the initiative is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, and therefore the initiative stressed that wars and sanctions are not the right way to resolve conflicts. Therefore, China called on all countries to work seriously and responsibly together to resolve regional disputes and escalating global issues that pose a threat to global stability.
This confirms that the Chinese global security initiative is in line with the principles and Charter of international relations within the framework of the United Nations, which existed to establish security, peace and stability for all countries and people, as well as the protection of rights and the importance of equal treatment, and the need to defend justice and fairness to resolve all outstanding issues at the regional or international level. This has been confirmed by China’s diplomatic efforts in the framework of its foreign relations with others, aimed at achieving cooperation and joint work to resolve all issues.
The initiative in the Arab-Chinese context
The situation in the Middle East is still turbulent, and conflicts and unrest are still subject to escalation and expansion, and therefore the motivation is to pay attention to the realization of the principles of the global security initiative in the Middle East by both parties is highlighted. Therefore, China will continue to make diplomatic efforts with the countries of the region to promote comprehensive and effective cooperation within the framework of this initiative, in order to build a stable and prosperous Middle East, and then maintain regional and international peace and security.
Arab-Chinese relations are in constant development, for 2000 years there have been Arab-Chinese ties of cooperation within the framework of the ancient Silk Road, renewed by the announcement of strategic partnership relations between the two parties within the framework of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. And with the common political will to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in various sectors, China has established official diplomatic relations with 22 Arab countries, so that this relationship has become an important basis for effective cooperation between them on all issues. For instance, in December 2022, the first Arab-Chinese summit was held in Riyadh, and it was announced that a new stage of cooperation was established to strengthen strategic partnership relations in all fields between the two parties, and strive to establish the Arab-Chinese community in the new era.
Therefore, this summit constitutes the real nucleus of the Arab-Chinese rapprochement, which is in line with the regional and international realities, and will determine the features of relations between the two sides in the coming years, in light of the strategic importance of the Middle East region in Chinese politics, and the importance of China for the Arab side as a successful model in opening up and seeking to achieve security, peace and sustainable development. Thus, the historical, cultural, political and economic ties between them are deeper and more interactive, which will make the characteristics of this relationship more effective in forums and towards all issues of common interest.
In brief, the Middle East region has suffered from external interventions and has become an arena of attraction for some forces, and has slipped into a spiral of wars and unrest, so the global security initiative is committed to the concept of comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable common security in order to achieve security and stability in the region. For example, China has succeeded in achieving reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, resolving their differences to resume diplomatic relations, exchange ambassadors and strengthen communication between them, which is a successful exercise of the global security initiative in the Middle East, and therefore a wave of reconciliations took place and many diplomatic relations were resumed between Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE, between Iran and Sudan, and between Turkey and Egypt at that time.
Based on this, the countries of the Middle East region have become more aware that the security of one state should not be based on insecurity in other countries, and current challenges can be met and achieve common and sustainable security only through enhanced coordination, cooperation, adherence to unity and solidarity. And for the Palestinian issue, China stressed its firm position on the importance of unified Arab cooperation and coordination to support its solution in accordance with international law and achieve international justice, and that the security and stability of the Middle East can only be achieved by solving this issue, considering that it is the central issue and the title of security, peace and stability in the region.
Conclusion
It is obvious that there is mutual respect, joint coordination and effective relations between China and the Arab countries on many regional and international issues, and there is also Agreement and understanding on ideas and proposals on issues of international collective security and sensitive issues in the Middle East, and this was confirmed by China’s policy document towards Arab countries on January 13, 2016, which stated: “China is committed to developing its relations with Arab countries on the basis of the Five Principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence. This is in line with the principles, goals and aspirations of the China Global Security Initiative to achieve security and stability in the Middle East region.