Common Responsibility

In September 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 70th anniversary celebration of the founding of the UN. Together with leaders from around the world, he reiterated the international community’s commitment to the tenets and principles of the UN Charter, while discussing how to enhance the UN’s position at the core of global governance under the new situation.

Via its reform and opening-up, as well as peaceful development, China has not only strengthened its national power and gradually integrated into the international community, but also fulfilled the UN’s purpose of maintaining international peace and security, while promoting international friendship.

Maintaining Peace and Security

In order to help the world’s people out of the abyss of war and embark on the path of peaceful development, the victorious nations of WWII, led by China, the U.K., the U.S., the Soviet Union and France, established the UN in 1945. Based on alphabetical order, China was the first country to sign the UN Charter, symbol of the UN’s birth. As permanent members of the Security Council, the five founding nations have the right to adopt coercive action to maintain international peace and security, and also possess veto power.

In 1949 the defeated government of the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan Province, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded on the mainland. The territories on either side of the Taiwan Straits have since been divided and governed separately. Although continuing to use the designations “Republic of China” and “government of the Republic of China,” the Taiwan authority has completely forfeited its right to exercise state sovereignty on behalf of China. By dint of continual application, the PRC ultimately had its lawful rights restored in the UN in October 1971.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has performed its enormous task of safeguarding world peace and settling regional conflicts. Particularly after the reform and opening-up, which led to significant improvement to its national power, China has been able to participate proactively in cooperation with the UN, becoming a vital force for maintaining world peace and security.

In conflict mediations, China has promoted the cooperative mechanism of regional security dialogue and participated in the Asia-Pacific region multilateral security dialogue. China contributed in a constructive manner to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia during the Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue.

“On the issue of Afghanistan, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed a special envoy to Afghanistan to strengthen engagement and coordination with the country and with relevant parties, making a success of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in October 2014,” said Li Dongyan, research fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

According to Li, China has also participated in Iraq’s peaceful reconstruction, promoting cooperation in various areas, such as offering humanitarian aid and supporting anti-terrorism actions. China has also paid close attention to South Sudan, the government having sent its special representative for African affairs to South Sudan and its surrounding countries on several occasions to conduct mediations. In early 2015, a key mission of Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to five African nations in early 2015 was to mediate the conflict in South Sudan. China also holds Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) negotiations for South Sudan’s peace process, advancing four proposals, namely a general cease-fire, establishment of a transitional government as soon as possible, firm support for IGAD’s role of mediation, and relief of the local humanitarian situation. 

Along with its prosperity and development, China has assumed greater responsibilities for global security and prosperity.

Under the principles of respecting state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and peacefully settling disputes, China has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations in Cambodia, East Timor, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, China has also sent a large number of military observers, engineering and medical units, and more than 2,000 person-times of military personnel and civilian police to cover almost all hot spots.

According to Hervé Ladsous, UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, China’s peacekeeping force has significantly contributed to world peace; and Chinese peacekeepers are also well-trained, highly disciplined and qualified, excel in their work, and are well-equipped.

China has ushered in a new perception of security by appropriately resolving historical border issues and enhancing mutual military trust. China has cooperated effectively with other countries in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, and conducted joint anti-terrorism military exercises with member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Pakistan.

Moreover, China helps other countries with earthquake relief work and anti-terrorist escorts, offering water supplies and medical treatment, in addition to evacuating its nationals in emergent situations.