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The close link between China’s global ambitions and its national security concept was recently underscored by the release of the white paper titled “China’s National Security in the New Era” on May 12, 2025. This document presents Beijing’s holistic approach to security, covering a wide range of areas beyond military and political aspects, and emphasizing the close connection between national security and development. The white paper introduces China’s global initiatives—especially the GSI—as an integral part of China’s national security strategy and its efforts to shape a global governance system that aligns better with its interests and vision for an international order based on its principles. The release of this document serves as an up-to-date and official reminder of the scope of China’s ambitions and the potential impact of its moves on the international stage.

China as a Proactive Global Player

In recent years, alongside its accelerated economic growth—particularly under President Xi Jinping’s rule—China has been actively working to establish itself as a key player on the international stage. Beyond expanding its influence within existing organizations, China explicitly seeks to reform the global governance system to make it, in its view, fairer and more equitable. This goal resonates in speeches by Chinese leaders and official documents, reflecting a desire to directly influence the rules and values of what China calls an “improved” global system that better serves its interests and objectives, with UN institutions being a particularly significant arena.

These ambitions have gained further momentum against the backdrop of two key trends: on one hand, the intensifying great power competition between China and the United States, which escalated under the current Trump administration with the imposition of sweeping mutual tariffs; and on the other hand, US declarations of withdrawal from multilateral frameworks and initiatives, including the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization. This retreat has created a significant opportunity for China to fill an influence vacuum on the international stage, although it comes with challenges, including China’s degree of willingness to finance large-scale international initiatives and increasing criticism over its aid characteristics, particularly concerns about “debt traps” for recipient countries and issues of transparency.

China’s proposed reform framework relies on the concept of a “community with a shared future for mankind,” supported by three main initiatives launched since 2021: The Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013, and together form a conceptual and practical framework for China’s offer to the world.

China’s Global Initiative Strategy                                                                                                                            

Global Development Initiative (GDI): The GDI was presented by President Xi at the 76th UN General Assembly in September 2021—a deliberate choice of platform. Examining the initiative and Chinese leaders’ rhetoric shows it aligns directly with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. China presents the GDI as a central platform for advancing the development needs of the Global South, positioning itself as a champion of these countries’ interests on the world stage.

Unlike the BRI, which focuses primarily on infrastructure and connectivity, the GDI offers a broader framework for development across various social and economic areas and is presented as complementary to the BRI. Specifically, the GDI targets eight key areas: poverty eradication, food security, health, development financing, climate change and green development, industrialization, the digital economy, and connectivity—with an emphasis on cooperation and innovation-driven development. As part of the initiative, China transferred $10 billion to a dedicated fund—the “Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.” The GDI also reflects China’s belief that development is a necessary step toward achieving peace and security. China established the “UN Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative,” which, according to Chinese reports, has received support from “over 100 countries” and UN Secretary-General António Guterres himself.

The timing of the GDI’s launch was likely not coincidental, coming after sharp criticism of China following the COVID-19 outbreak and about six months after the Ukraine crisis began. Just months earlier, the G7 had launched the Build Back Better World initiative, which was widely portrayed in global media as a rival to the BRI.

Global Security Initiative (GSI): Unveiled in April 2022 at the Boao Forum for Asia, the GSI presents China’s vision for a global security order that is “shared, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable.” Its launch at this regional forum underscores the importance China places on Asia—its geographic neighborhood—in its security thinking. The initiative’s core principles include respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, noninterference in internal affairs, adherence to the UN Charter, consideration of all states’ “legitimate” security concerns, the “indivisible security” principle, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue.

The GSI reflects China’s stance toward the US alliance system and Western security concepts, which it criticizes as rooted in a “Cold War mentality” and as contributing to global instability. In February 2023, China released a “concept paper” outlining the GSI’s priorities, including references to the Middle East and a “just solution to the Palestinian question.” China cites its role in brokering the Saudi–Iran agreement (March 2023) and the “Beijing Declaration” among Palestinian factions (July 2024) as examples of successful GSI implementation—showcasing its self-image as a mediator. Although the GSI has yet to gain wide recognition within official international institutions, China claims support from 90 countries and organizations. It promotes the initiative primarily through regional forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, as well as through bilateral contacts, again focusing on the Global South. China has also proposed advancing the UN Secretary-General’s “New Agenda for Peace” through the implementation of the GSI, once again reflecting the alignment between Chinese initiatives and UN goals.

Global Civilization Initiative (GCI): Launched in March 2023 during a high-level meeting of the World Political Parties Dialogue—a forum convened by China’s Communist Party to engage with political parties worldwide—the GCI promotes mutual respect, equality, dialogue, and inclusion among cultures. Central to the initiative is the rejection of imposing one country’s values and social models on another and an emphasis on respecting each country’s unique “development path” based on its own national conditions. The initiative views “development” and “security” as flexible concepts tailored to each country. This allows China to strengthen ties with states—particularly in the Global South—with diverse regimes by presenting a nonjudgmental approach to their internal affairs and highlighting a clear contrast with the United States. This approach naturally appeals to non-liberal regimes, as it reduces Western pressure to conform to standards that are viewed as universal in the West. While the GCI is currently regarded mainly as rhetorical, serving to bolster China’s soft power, it also provides a complementary cultural and values-based framework to the other initiatives. It echoes UN principles, such as promoting cooperation and international development, although it diverges from the UN framework in its subjective, relativist approach. China has also emphasized the initiative’s alignment with UNESCO’s goals.

The Bigger Picture: A “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”

These initiatives do not exist in isolation; rather, they are interconnected and form an overarching vision of a “community with a shared future for mankind”—the flagship slogan of Chinese foreign policy under President Xi. Although somewhat amorphous, analysis of the initiatives helps clarify its meaning. The BRI provides the economic and physical infrastructure; the GDI offers an alternative development model for the Global South; the GSI outlines an alternative security framework; and the GCI supplies the values and perceptual legitimacy underpinning this vision, grounded in guided development, shared security, state sovereignty, noninterference, and cultural relativism.

By advancing these initiatives, China actively works to reshape international norms and infuse the multilateral system—particularly the UN—with Chinese ideas and concepts. A review of these initiatives reveals China’s effort to align itself with the three pillars of the UN Charter—development, peace and security, and human rights (albeit with its own interpretation)—and to recast them in a distinctly Chinese formulation. China’s new Foreign Relations Law (June 2023) even formalized the promotion of the three initiatives (GDI, GSI, GCI) and the building of a “community with a shared future for mankind” as a legal commitment. This step underscores their long-term strategic importance in Beijing’s eyes, even if their current practical influence and meaning are not yet fully clear.

China views ongoing global transformations (“changes unseen in a century”) as an opportunity to expand and deepen its influence, reshape the international order in ways that protect its security and development interests, and advance the overarching goal of “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” by 2049—the centennial of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. By then, China aims to become a “modern, socialist, and leading world power.” China also recognizes the challenges these changes bring and is simultaneously stepping up efforts to overcome them and accelerate the advancement of its goals.

Implications for Israel

China’s initiatives and their global vision pose a series of challenges for Israel:

Regional Influence: China’s sponsorship of the diplomatic thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia, along with its engagement in the Palestinian issue under the GSI—including mediation efforts between Palestinian factions, albeit largely symbolic—signals growing Chinese involvement in matters sensitive to Israel. Israel must assess how this involvement, and China’s increasing readiness to act as a mediator, might affect its interests, particularly regarding national security and regional strategic balance.

Intensifying Bloc Rivalry: The competition between the United States and China is fostering a more polarized international system, marked by rising tensions and disagreements in global forums. This development complicates Israel’s decision-making and challenges its ability to maintain room to maneuver independently in certain areas and to advance new agendas on the international stage.

American Pressure: Israel must navigate between its strategic alliance with the United States and China’s role as an important trade partner. US pressure is likely to intensify, especially regarding Chinese investments in critical infrastructure and advanced, dual-use technologies, due to security and espionage concerns. In this context, special attention should be paid to China’s growing emphasis on development as an inseparable part of its national security, as any disruption to its development may be perceived as a threat.

Initial Policy Recommendations for Israel

China’s global initiatives represent a concentrated expression of Beijing’s ambition to reshape the global order and position itself as a leading power with an alternative vision for international relations. These initiatives combine economic and infrastructure opportunities alongside conceptual frameworks in development, security, and culture, challenging existing Western-led norms and institutions. For Israel, a key ally of the United States, these developments could present multifaceted challenges requiring a cautious, well-informed, and coordinated policy approach:

• Monitoring and Dialogue on Chinese Regional Influence: Israel should closely monitor China’s activities in the Middle East, especially its involvement in sensitive security and political issues. Simultaneously, it should maintain dialogue channels with Beijing to convey Israeli positions and safeguard its security and regional interests, while engaging in regular consultations with relevant partners on regional developments.
• Diversifying Israel’s Economic and Diplomatic Ties: A national effort should be made to diversify Israel’s economic partnerships and reduce reliance on China by focusing on emerging Asian markets such as India and Vietnam. At the same time, Israel should strengthen exchanges with countries in Latin America and Africa, engaging in mutual learning on navigating the changing geopolitical environment.
• Close and Transparent Coordination With the United States, Alongside Focused Ties and Risk Management With China: Israel should maintain ongoing strategic dialogue with the US administration regarding its China policy, to understand Washington’s “red lines” and cooperate on mitigating security and technological risks. At the same time, Israel should keep open channels of dialogue with China while focusing economic ties on areas with minimal sensitivity and rigorously managing risks across all spheres of interaction.