China's 'Global Security Initiative': Turkish and Chinese experts discuss

While Israel's attacks on Palestine, which have caused the greatest civilian loss of the 21st century, continue, the standoff between Russia and Ukraine has entered its third year, encompassing the US, the European Union, and NATO on a broader scale. According to Global Peace Index data, while the number of lives lost in 2023 doubled compared to the previous year, it is considered certain that occupations, civil wars, or armed conflicts will make 2024 even darker.

Among the countries taking action to ensure security, which has emerged as the most pressing issue facing the international community, the steps taken by China in recent times are noteworthy. Indeed, the Global Security Initiative announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022 played an important role in establishing the long-awaited normalization between Saudi Arabia and Iran. According to China, which emphasizes that measures taken by countries or military alliances should not threaten the security interests of the other side, "security must be treated as an indivisible whole."

China, which facilitated the cooperation agreement between Riyadh and Tehran—often called the Middle East's new Cold War—adopted a similar approach regarding Ukraine, presenting a 12-point peace plan on the anniversary of the crisis. Standing out as the only country within the UN Security Council to have direct contact with both the Moscow and Kyiv administrations, China sent its special envoy to the region for the second time in March.

On the issue of Palestine, China, much like Turkey, advocates for the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. According to Chinese President Xi, who defines the Palestinian issue as a "historical injustice," "the legitimate rights of a nation cannot be a subject of trade."

The Global Security Initiative developed by China in response to crisis points is also being closely followed in Turkey. The documentary prepared on the subject by Harici Yapım, written by journalist Gökhun Göçmen and with cinematography by Burak Divarcı, features contributions from retired General Staff Department Head İsmail Hakkı Pekin, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı from the METU Department of International Relations, and Yu Guoqing from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.