Security issues are beginning to be a part of South-South cooperation under Chinese support. As an expert on Chinese politics and the policies of the Communist Party of China, I think the security cooperation will take the South-South agenda under Chinese supervision to a high level of cooperation in the upcoming days. Especially there should be a line drawn between “solidarity” and “non-interference,” as China calls it.
South-South security cooperation under Chinese support During the global celebration at the United Nations Headquarters of Global South Day on September 12, 2025, which is consistent with China’s official announcement of its accession to the “New York Declaration” on the two-state solution, stressing that it is in line with its firm position on the Palestinian issue, and defined as a collaborative approach that brings together developing countries based on mutual respect, shared goals, and a profound spirit of solidarity. It is not based on a donor-recipient logic, but rather on concerted efforts to solve common challenges through the exchange of knowledge, skills, and technology.
Throughout the years of war on the Gaza Strip, China has been insisting on the need for a ceasefire. The first point in the position paper, which China, with the support of all countries of the Global South, presented at international forums and the United Nations less than two months after the outbreak of the recent Gaza war, regarding a settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, included a “ceasefire and comprehensive end to fighting,” with the implementation of relevant international resolutions, and for the Security Council to fulfill its role based on Resolution 2712 of November 15, 2023. When an agreement was reached in this regard on January 15, 2025, Beijing welcomed it, hoping for its effective implementation, leading to a “comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.” It affirmed its continued provision of humanitarian aid and expressed its willingness to assist in the reconstruction of Gaza. These are all positions agreed upon by China and the Global South within the halls of the United Nations and in all international forums.
China has agreed with various countries of the Global South on many security issues, most notably the Gaza issue and the Palestinian issue, which are the core security issues of the developing Global South and are agreed upon by China with everyone, especially as it is currently going through a critical phase. China and the countries of the Global South support all efforts aimed at a political settlement of the Palestinian issue and continue to work with the international community to exert tireless efforts to stop the fighting in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, implement the two-state solution, and achieve a comprehensive, just, final, and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. This was agreed upon during the annual celebration at the United Nations on September 12 of International South Day, with the participation of China and hundreds of countries of the Global South, who share common agreement on a large number of security issues, most notably the Palestinian issue, ending the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, confronting American arrogance and Israeli military policies in the besieged Gaza Strip, and preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Security cooperation is indeed an important agenda for countries in the Global South and China. The principles of solidarity and non-interference can be reconciled by focusing on cooperation on development security issues, such as food and climate security, rather than military intervention; strengthening consultation and information-sharing mechanisms; and respecting national sovereignty while supporting countries’ efforts to collectively address comprehensive security threats. The importance of security cooperation for countries in the Global South with China lies in:
1) Addressing Common Challenges:
Countries in the Global South face common security challenges such as terrorism, transnational organized crime, cyber threats, and climate change, which threaten food security.
2) Strengthening Development Security:
Security cooperation aims to address the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, by focusing on sustainable development and cooperation in areas of human security.
3) Capacity Building for Developing Countries in the Global South:
Security cooperation allows countries in the Global South to share expertise and build capacity in the areas of security and crisis response, reducing reliance on external intervention.
4) Chinese reconciling solidarity and non-interference in the interests and affairs of developing countries and countries of the South, which is achieved through the following mechanisms:
A) Solidarity in the context of development:
Solidarity is represented by the support of countries of the South for each other in confronting common security challenges, with the emphasis that such support must be within a development framework, not as interference in internal affairs.
B) Consultation and information-sharing mechanisms:
Solidarity and non-interference can be achieved by strengthening consultation and cooperation mechanisms in the exchange of information and intelligence between security agencies in countries of the South, which helps to better understand common threats.
C) for national sovereignty:
Any security cooperation must be based on respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, with the emphasis that security-related decisions must emanate from the concerned countries themselves.
D) Focus on comprehensive security:
than interfering in internal conflicts, the focus can be on comprehensive security, which includes issues of food security, water security, health security, and climate security, where countries of the South can cooperate effectively and support each other.
E) Strengthening the role of regional organizations:
Regional organizations play a pivotal role in achieving a balance between solidarity and non-interference, providing a platform for member states to cooperate and coordinate in security areas without infringing on their sovereignty.
Based on the above analysis, this principled position of China and the countries of the Global South on the Palestinian issue and cooperation on various security issues stems from a shared conviction between China and the countries of the Global South that Palestinians must obtain their legitimate rights. Therefore, Beijing and the Global South completely rejected all proposals regarding the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, while collectively affirming the principle that “the Palestinians govern Palestine.” Consistent with this same position, Beijing and a number of countries of the Global South welcomed the Egyptian plan adopted by the emergency Arab Summit on March 4, 2025, to stop the war on the Gaza Strip and rebuild the stricken territory. China fully supported, along with the countries of the Global South at the United Nations headquarters and in international forums, Egyptian and Arab efforts aimed at ensuring the implementation of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the continued delivery of aid to the people of Gaza, paving the way for the return of security and stability to the entire Middle East. Beijing and the Global South are convinced that the tensions in the region are due to what is happening in Gaza.
