China argues that with its foreign policy strategy, which it defines as “peaceful rise”, it has built a new “international policy language” beyond established international political approaches. In this context, it prefers the term “great state” instead of the definition of “great power” and evaluates the use of the concept of power from a different perspective. In line with this definition, great states try to implement their policy.
On June 4, 2023, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, delivered a speech titled “China’s New Security Initiative” at the XXth Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and evaluated the relations between China and the United States of America (USA) as “the relationship between great powers”.
Shangri-La Dialogue is an important platform that addresses current security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The XXth edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies since 2002. The summit was held on 4 June 2023, hosted by Singapore. Heads of defense and intelligence from 49 countries, including China, the USA and the European Union (EU) countries, attended the summit. In the Shangri-La Dialogue, the largest security forum in the Indo-Pacific region, not only security issues in Asia, but also the main issues concerning global security, especially the Russia-Ukraine War, were discussed.
At the beginning of his speech, the Chinese Minister of Defense, General Li Shangfu, drew attention to “the slowing of the global economic recovery, the resurgence of the Cold War mentality and the escalating regional conflicts”.[1]
Expressing that the Asia-Pacific region is facing unprecedented security problems today, Li talked about the need to find answers to the questions of who is disturbing the regional peace, what are the foundations of chaos and instability, and what precautions should be taken. In order to answer these questions, the Chinese Minister of Defense emphasized that it is essential for the states of the region to make wise choices by standing on the right side of history and considering regional common interests. Li Shangfu formulates these smart choices from a Chinese perspective as follows:
- Mutual respect must prevail over tyranny and hegemony. Experienced realities prove that hegemonism and power politics create instability. He particularly emphasized that they are strongly against states to impose their will on other states, to put their own interests above the interests of others, and to ensure their own security at the expense of other states.
- It appears that some countries deliberately interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and often resort to unilateral investments. It is clear that color revolutions and proxy wars in different regions have created chaos and turmoil.
- China firmly supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) centeredness and strategic autonomy. In this context, China is determined to develop cooperative, collective and common security in its region within the framework of mutual respect.
- Fairness and justice in international politics should transcend the laws of the jungle. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. International relations should be formed through consultation and through these mechanisms, rather than being dictated by one or more countries. The so-called rules-based international system produces exceptionalism and double standards and is nothing more than a tool to protect the interests of one or a few countries.
- It is natural for states to have differences of opinion with each other. However, there are two approaches to addressing differences of opinion. One escalates tensions and fuels the flames, while the other seeks consensus and encourages reconciliation and negotiations. It is clear which one is the right choice.
- The Cold War mentality is being resurrected in current international relations. Conflict of two blocks greatly increases security risks. China argues that no strategy should be based on ideological grounds and should not aim at forming special military alliances against imaginary threats.
- The aim of encouraging the formation of military alliances similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Asia Pacific (see Asia NATO) aims to hold the countries in the region hostage and has the potential to pave the way for regional division, disagreements and conflicts.
It would be useful to analyze this speech of Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at the summit within the framework of a multipolar world vision. But the main point of this speech is that China aims at multipolarity and presents itself as a real and equipped alternative to US policies. In this context, it would be correct to address the conversation with the axis of international politics and security, that is, in two ways:
First of all, from a political point of view; the principles and fictional mechanisms put forward by China as of today include multipolar discourse. However, it remains unclear what is meant by equality in international relations.
In fact, the “pauses” and/or “disruptions” in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may greatly benefit China. In this way, China can come to the forefront as an alternative power center not only in the Asia Pacific but also in the immediate vicinity of Russia. Therefore, China’s foreign policy approach, which it conceptualizes as “peaceful ascent”, is no different from the USA’s view of concepts such as democracy and human rights as a foreign policy tool.
In summary, China is prone to implement a realistic foreign policy with “idealistic discourses” like the USA. On the other hand, China is considered as an alternative for the countries that are outside the USA and England-based geopolitics and make up a large part of the world.
Secondly, in the context of international security, the situation is more complicated. There is even more data here to support China’s discursive legitimacy. China is trying to offer an alternative to the US vision. This vision of security contains the potential to further threaten the hegemonic supremacy of the USA. China directly considers military alliances as the source of problems in international relations. At this point, it is aware that new military formations such as AUKUS, which was announced in 2021, are directly targeting him. However, the main issue here is the cooperation between the USA, England and their allies against China. This provides China with distinct advantages and opportunities.
The new dynamics that AUKUS will create may enable China to implement policies towards Continental Europe more easily and effectively. In other words, the “anti-USA-England political alliance” may have a chance to find a place for itself in a wider area. Undoubtedly, this situation may bring not only political but also comprehensive economic regionalization and new associations. In this case, it is possible to foresee that China will assume a more decisive role in the European security architecture.
Consequently, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu’s speech titled “China’s New Security Initiative” at the XXth Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore is very important in the context of the political and security configurations mentioned above. Frankly, the global dominance of the USA, which emerged in full after the Cold War, has never been more threatened. In this context, it is obvious that the developments in Asia will determine the dynamics of international politics.
[1] 20th Asia Security Summit, The Shangri-La Dialogue, Fifth Plenary Session, https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library—content–migration/files/shangri-la-dialogue/2023/provisional-transcripts/p-5/general-li-shangfu-state-councilor-minister-of-national-defense-china—provisional.pdf (Date of Accession: 06.06.2023).
