Stefanie Kam

In 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Security Initiative (GSI), a strategy advocating a broad approach to security that spans traditional and nontraditional domains, emphasising global cooperation, training and conflict mediation.

The GSI concept paper recognizes the increasingly interconnected nature of international and domestic security threats, as well as the importance of maintaining security in both traditional and nontraditional domains. It also outlines a collaborative framework for global security engagements, providing opportunities for a range of bilateral security agreements with developing nations, police training and mediation efforts in conflicts like those between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as peace proposals for Ukraine.

Global Security Initiative: A growing focus on nontraditional security threats

As China expands its global presence, it increasingly confronts nontraditional security threats such as terrorism, political instability and transnational crime. These threats extend beyond the realm of conventional military conflicts, necessitating a comprehensive security strategy that addresses both domestic stability and international risks.

Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), introduced in 2013, has amplified China's exposure to vulnerabilities beyond its borders, particularly in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and parts of Africa. In these regions, China engages in nontraditional security cooperation with regional states, addressing issues such as piracy, illegal trafficking and organized crime, while also contributing to peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. China's involvement in U.N. peacekeeping missions and support for fragile states underscores its aim to be recognized as a responsible global power, actively contributing to international nontraditional security initiatives.

China's geopolitical ambitions under the GSI

A key debate on China's evolving approach to nontraditional security under the GSI centers on the implications and reach of its broadening focus on global stability, particularly in areas like counterterrorism, transnational crime and cyber threats. Advocates argue that the GSI enhances regional cooperation and mutual security by offering frameworks for addressing shared challenges, especially through capacity-building programs, intelligence sharing and agreements in the Global South, with a marked focus on regions like Africa and Southeast Asia. Proponents view this as a stabilizing force that encourages countries to enhance their internal security in line with nontraditional, modern security needs.

A key concern surrounding the GSI is that China's expanded nontraditional security focus may primarily serve its geopolitical objectives — securing overseas interests, such as BRI projects, and maintaining domestic stability by extending influence over perceived regime security threats abroad. There is also a potential risk of dependency on Chinese security frameworks for developing countries and concerns about surveillance and state control measures that could accompany Chinese assistance, especially given its track record in handling domestic nontraditional security issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

The GSI could also potentially impact the traditional concepts of sovereignty and noninterference. China's involvement in other nations' security structures, particularly in Asia and Africa, can be seen as a subtle shift from its traditional stance of nonintervention, a move some interpret as paving the way for greater influence over the domestic policies of partner nations.

Challenges and strategic flexibility

For Beijing, significant challenges remain in its own efforts to engage with host countries globally through the GSI. These challenges are particularly pronounced in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Chinese interests — including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — face threats from militant groups such as the Islamic State, the Taliban and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The complex militant landscapes in these regions complicate direct Chinese interventions, often leading to a reliance on humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts rather than overt counterterrorism operations.

In regions with lower stakes and more manageable security risks, China's approach has been to establish cooperative frameworks focused on nontraditional security issues, offering police training, security assistance and material support. For instance, China has strengthened security engagements with Central Asian countries through the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Conclusion

The GSI's broad focus on comprehensive security allows Beijing to integrate counterterrorism within a wider framework that addresses nontraditional security challenges such as extremism, cyber threats and transnational crime. Unlike traditional military strategies, China's nontraditional focus relies on law enforcement training and development projects as tools for influence rather than direct military presence, aligning with its stance on sovereignty and multilateralism.

China's growing focus on nontraditional security through the GSI underscores its comprehensive approach to security while reflecting China's ongoing efforts to shape the security environment to align with its own strategic interests. Understanding China's distinct perspective on security will be essential as its global influence continues to expand.

Stefanie KAM Li Yee is an assistant professor at the China Programme, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at Nanyang Technological University as well as a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (APLN). This essay was published in cooperation with the APLN (www.apln.network).