logo
Competing security visions of the US, China

Competing security visions of the US, China

Observer6 days ago
It is indisputable at this point that the US is disengaging from global leadership. While America's retreat has so far been largely a choice – spearheaded by President Donald Trump's 'America First' administration – it may well become irreversible. And if the Communist Party of China (CPC) has its way, the People's Republic will emerge as the new global hegemon.
China's recently published white paper on national security, its first ever, offers a glimpse into the CPC's plans. Reflecting President Xi Jinping's 'holistic national security concept,' the document articulates an expansive, integrated approach, encompassing political, economic, military, technological, cultural, and societal domains. Unlike previous defence-focused white papers, it establishes political security – specifically, the CPC's leadership – as the foundation of national stability, essential to enable China to act as a stabilising force in a turbulent world.
That turbulence, China asserts, can be blamed largely on Western powers – especially the US – which have fostered disorder through containment and interference. China has a point here: even America's current withdrawal from global leadership has been conflicted and chaotic.
That chaos begins with the Trump administration's embrace of economic nationalism and continues through Trump's rejection of decades of US foreign-policy principles. Trump's willingness to leverage American power to shape global affairs according to his whims is another incitement to instability, with his unilateral decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites being the most obvious example.
To be sure, in the Trump administration's view, the US operation in Iran was a bold, one-off manoeuvre aimed squarely at ending the Iranian nuclear threat and advancing peace in the Middle East. It was thus perfectly aligned with the administration's commitment not to become embroiled in new 'forever wars.' But not only is the operation unlikely to have achieved its objectives; it undermines US soft power by inviting accusations of arrogance and hypocrisy.
This appears to matter little to the Trump administration, which seems convinced that national security depends not on global outreach but on military deterrence, advances in cybersecurity, and economic protectionism, exemplified by high tariffs, efforts to secure critical-mineral supply chains, and limits on the export of advanced technology to China. In fact, the Trump administration has scaled back cultural diplomacy and slashed development aid – hallmarks of America's post-Cold War influence.
This has provided a critical opening for China to position itself as a stable and certain actor in regional and global affairs, a champion of multilateralism, an investor in and defender of the Global South, and a just peacemaker. Within Asia, this vision has materialised in 'treaties of neighbourliness and friendly cooperation' between China and nine countries, and in China's promotion of greater regional security cooperation, including with the ASEAN countries.
More broadly, China is touting Xi's Global Security Initiative (GSI), which was launched in 2022 as an alternative to Western-led security frameworks that can support broad-based, 'win-win' cooperation on 'complex and intertwined security challenges.' The message has resonated widely: according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 120 countries have endorsed the GSI.
China is further nurturing its soft power through cultural outreach – from its network of Confucius Institutes to its recent dialogues with the African Union – and economic engagement, including trade, lending, and investment. In May, the country introduced a $9 billion credit line for Latin America and the Caribbean. More broadly, China has been allocating huge amounts of funding for infrastructure and energy projects across the Global South, including through its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The GSI, the BRI, and other projects form the pillars of what China calls a 'global community of shared future.' But, like the US, China's claim to the moral high ground is not always aligned with reality. Its message is clear: China, with the CPC at its helm, is the just, stable, non-hegemonic power the world – especially the Global South – needs. But its rhetoric of justice and multilateralism is belied by its coercive domestic policies and aggressive regional manoeuvres, such as the militarisation of the South China Sea. In fact, while China presents its security posture as entirely defensive – aimed only at ensuring its own sovereignty – it has been pursuing various territorial claims with increasing assertiveness. Regarding Taiwan, the CPC makes 'no promise to renounce the use of force' and 'reserves the option of taking all necessary measures' to 'reunite' China.
Following through on these threats would be far less justifiable than the US operation in Iran, which was at least aimed at neutralising a perceived threat. Taiwan poses no threat whatsoever to China or its neighbours. But for many countries in the Global South, America's history of double standards, including its inconsistent human-rights advocacy, has so decimated its moral authority that its interventions stand out as uniquely problematic, especially as it turns its back on soft power.
The US and China have very different ideas of what it means to underwrite global stability. For the US, the objective – at least before Trump's presidency – had been to quash or deter threats to a rules-based order, including through selective interventions.
But as Trump's America abandons that approach and alienates more of the world, China's vision, focused on fortifying CPC control and building alternative frameworks for global engagement, has gained greater appeal. If the US wants to remain a decisive player in the emerging multipolar world order, it will need to reaffirm the postwar foreign-policy principles that underpinned the rules-based order that it helped build but now threatens. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2025.
Ana Palacio
A former minister of foreign affairs of Spain, is a visiting lecturer at Georgetown University
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ukraine to hold talks with US next week as military aid resumes
Ukraine to hold talks with US next week as military aid resumes

Times of Oman

time4 hours ago

  • Times of Oman

Ukraine to hold talks with US next week as military aid resumes

Kyiv: As US President Donald Trump reaffirmed Washington's commitment to resuming weapons supply to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that high-level talks are scheduled for next week with the US. In an address on Friday, Zelenskyy emphasised the restoration of military aid shipments and the upcoming military-level discussions with the US, noting that the Assistant to the US President and Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, will be here in Kyiv for the discussions. "Right now, we are working with our partners on new, increased weapons production in Ukraine and equipping our army. We already have good agreements, and we expect to reach more; we will be working on them in the coming weeks," Zelenskyy stated. "We have received political signals at the highest level, good signals, including from the United States and from our European friends... According to all reports, aid shipments have been restored. We will continue our work next week with the American side at the military level; in particular, our military will be working with General Kellogg," he added. The Ukrainian President further called for the sanctions against Moscow to pressure the state to end the conflict, which is currently in its third year. "We are also preparing new European defence packages. We expect strong steps soon, including sanctions against Russia for this war - pressure must take effect," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump, during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, reaffirmed Washington's commitment to bolstering Ukraine's defence capabilities, stating that the US would be sending weapons to Ukraine to defend itself from Russia after reports that the Trump administration temporarily halted certain weapons deliveries to Ukraine amid a review of US military spending and foreign aid, CNN reported, citing a senior White House official. The resumption of the military by the US came days after Russia launched over 500 drones and 11 missiles at Kyiv on July 4, resulting in the death of one person, injuries to at least 23 others, and widespread damage to buildings across the capital, Al Jazeera reported, citing Ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Trump stated that the US would be providing weapons to NATO allies, who can then transfer them to Ukraine. This arrangement was also confirmed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, noting that it was quicker to send supplies from Europe than to ship them directly from American factories, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU goods as trade talks stall
Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU goods as trade talks stall

Times of Oman

time4 hours ago

  • Times of Oman

Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU goods as trade talks stall

Washington DC: The United States is set to impose a 30% tariff on all goods from the European Union from August 1, US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Saturday. The EU had been prepared for such a move, which comes a day after Trump told Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney that he would impose a 35% tariffs on Canadian imports. The 27-member bloc and the US failed to reach an agreement to strike a comprehensive trade deal, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods. In addition to the tariffs on EU goods, Trump posted another letter to his platform, declaring a 30% tariff rate on goods from Mexico beginning August 1 as well. The US president said the trade relationship with the EU has been "unfortunately, far from Reciprocal." As such, "we will charge the European Union a Tariff of only 30%," he said. Trump has frequently described tariffs as charges on other countries. However, the burden falls on consumers within the US, as tariffs make imported goods more expensive and thus less competitive. "Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with the EU," he added, referring to the difference in goods imported from the EU and goods exported to the EU. Trump invited the bloc to negotiate further, writing in his letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that high tariff rates would be dropped if "the European Union, or countries within the EU, decide to build or manufacture within the United States." Trump has spent the week sending letters to trading partners, announcing new rates for a number of countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil. Trump imposed a 20% import tax on all EU-made products in early April as part of a set of tariffs targeting countries with which the US has a trade imbalance. Hours after the nation-specific duties took effect, Trump put them on hold until July 9 at a standard rate of 10% in a bid to calm turbulent financial markets and allow time for negotiations. But the president expressed frustration at talks with the EU. In May, he threatened to impose a tariff rate of 50% on EU goods into the US. That would cause a price hike on everything from Italian leather goods to French cheese to German electronics in the US. Then Trump announced that universal tariffs that were due to kick in July 9 would be delayed until at least the beginning of August. The EU currently faces 50% US tariffs on its steel and aluminium exports, 25% on cars and car parts and 10% on most other products. How has the EU reacted? Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is prepared to take the necessary steps to safeguard its economic interests if the US proceeds with the 30% tariff rate. In a statement, the European Commission President said that the bloc remained ready "to continue working towards an agreement by August 1." "We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required," she added. French President Emmanuel Macron said his government shares the European Commission's "very strong disapproval" of Trump's announcement, which came despite "weeks of intense engagement." "France fully supports the European Commission in the negotiations, which will now intensify," Macron posted on X, adding that he still hopes "a mutually acceptable agreement" will be reached before August 1. The French president added that the bloc would need to speed up "the preparation of credible countermeasures" if no agreement is reached before the new tariffs take effect. The EU has the ability to enact the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) which allows it to retaliate against countries seeking to pressure its members. It has been repeatedly brought up as a possible response to Trump's threats. The ACI can limit access to companies from those countries to public procurement tenders and target services trade or investment. Germany's Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, meanwhile, warned that the US tariffs "would hit European exporting companies hard." She also said that they would have a "strong impact" on the US economy and consumers, as she urged for a "pragmatic outcome" to be reached "quickly."

620 Russian barrages hit Ukraine
620 Russian barrages hit Ukraine

Observer

time11 hours ago

  • Observer

620 Russian barrages hit Ukraine

KYIV: Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles overnight killing four people, Ukraine said on Saturday, calling for fresh sanctions on Moscow to halt its wave of record barrages. "Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which more than half were 'Shaheds'," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, referring to Iranian-made drones. The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 319 drones and 25 missiles, adding that one missile and about 20 drones hit "five locations". Zelensky said the strikes had killed at least two people and wounded 20 in the southwestern Chernivtsi region, far from the front lines of the east and south. Twelve people were wounded in Lviv, also in the west. In the east, two people died in Dnipropetrovsk and three were wounded in Kharkiv, local authorities said. The Russian defence ministry said it had targeted companies in Ukraine's military-industrial complex in Lviv, Kharkiv and Lutsk and a military aerodrome. — AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store