Global Security Initiative (GSI)

Are we headed into a new version of the Cold War? It will be different from the Cold War that existed between 1949 and 1989 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The economic sanctions imposed against Russia and the rise of China hint that the next Cold War will be mainly fought on the economic front.

China’s threats against Taiwan and its advances in the South China Sea threaten the security and economic interests of the Philippines and Vietnam. China has even come out with alternative governance mechanisms to the U.S.- dominated International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization with its Belt and Road Initiative, and institutions like the Asia infrastructure investment bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank (NDB). On the other hand, the U.S. even proposed to expand G7 to G-11 without including China in it.

Recently, a new Global Security Initiative (GSI) has been put forward by China. This initiative will counter the USA’s Indo-Pacific strategy and the Quad – the India, U.S., Australia, Japan grouping. China’s Foreign Minister had targeted the Quad, claiming that it is a critical component in what he called U.S. plans to establish an “Asian NATO.” Members of the Quad, on the other hand, have rejected the concept that it is an Asian NATO or a military alliance, instead emphasizing the Quad’s broad-based collaboration, particularly on medicines and technology.

This initiative, i.e., GSI, aims to oppose unilateralism and say no to group politics and bloc confrontation. This initiative will oppose the wanton use of unilateral sanctions, appearing to refer to Western sanctions.