At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, China reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and cooperative security in the Asia-Pacific, rejecting unilateral actions and ‘bullying’ practices. Speaking during a session on maritime security, Hu Gangfeng, vice president of the National Defense University of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, emphasized China’s vision of building a ‘maritime community with a shared future’ through dialogue and mutual learning.
Hu highlighted China’s three global initiatives—development, security, and civilization—as pillars for fostering peace and cooperation. ‘We must practice sincere multilateralism, ensuring equal exchanges and respect for all nations’ security interests,’ he stated, aligning with China’s recently released white paper on national security, which stresses ‘common security’ for all countries.
The dialogue, attended by over 550 delegates from 40 countries and regions, comes amid global fragmentation of security frameworks. Nuriyeni Kartika Bintarsari, an Indonesian academic, noted China’s ‘critical role’ in easing international tensions, as reported by Xinhua.
China’s Global Security Initiative, launched in 2022, has gained traction, with 119 countries and organizations endorsing it. The initiative aligns with Beijing’s proposed ‘Asian security model,’ prioritizing dialogue and shared challenges. Analysts view this as part of China’s broader strategy to shape regional stability through economic and diplomatic engagement.
