China’s Xi suggests ‘global security initiative’

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday proposed a “global security initiative” that upholds the principle of “indivisible security”, a concept also endorsed by Russia, although he gave no details of how it would be implemented.

In a video speech to the annual Boao Asia Forum, 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 on the basis of insecurity in other countries,” Xi said.

China has refused to condemn Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, and blames the Ukraine crisis on Nato’s eastward expansion.

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