III. The International Security Governance Hard Problems Urgently Need to Be Addressed in Coordination

III. The International Security Governance Hard Problems Urgently Need to Be Addressed in Coordination

By Fu Xiaoqiang

Director and Researcher of the Institute of Arms Control and Security

China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

In the year 2019, the international security was featured by intertwined changes and unrest, coexistence of both danger and opportunity, and obvious instability and uncertainty. However, the era trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win results is still rolling forward.

The United States was determined to selfishly pursue "America First". The United States withdrew from the INF Treaty and plans to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, having abandoned the traditional arms control and strategic stability framework between the United States and Russia.

The international security system and order have been continuously impacted by unilateralism, power politics and bullying actions, global and regional security problems have continued to increase, and international security governance problems have become highlighted. The chaos in the Middle East has stayed and expanded, and the contradictions between the United States and Iran have intensified. The legitimate and reasonable concerns of the DPRK have not been addressed. Security risks still exist in Northeast Asia. The United States strengthened its Asia-Pacific military alliance, pushed forward the so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy", increased military deployment and intervention, and added complex factors to Asia Pacific-security. The U.S. actions of imposing its geo-strategy and national private interests over international security make it difficult for international security governance to form a coordinated and lasting synergy.

The rising populism and far-right forces in Western society threaten social and political stability. Many countries have witnessed demonstrations and protests, which become radicalized and violent, which has become a new security challenge for the international community. In today's world, the integration, relevance and interaction of the security of various countries are constantly enhanced. Non-traditional security threats such as extremism, terrorism and cyber security resonate with social security issues, so no country is able to respond alone and it is imperative for the international community to coordinate its response.

China has put forward a new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and upholds to pursue peace with cooperation, and to promote security with cooperation, which is widely recognized by the international community. More and more countries show a signal to handle differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation in their policy orientations, and the voice of win-win cooperation is growing.

(Edited excerpts of the article in People’s Daily 26 December 2019)