Wang Yi said on Wednesday: “The law of the jungle is resurfacing, not because the UN Charter is outdated, but exactly because the charter has not been effectively observed and safeguarded.
“Facing emerging global challenges, the pressing priority now is to fulfil the UN Charter’s obligations, uphold sovereign equality, observe the international rule of law, oppose power politics and bullying acts.”
The white paper also calls for countries to de-escalate ongoing conflicts, with Wang Yi making a brief reference to the war on Iran.
“What is needed now is for all parties to work toward the same direction, commit firmly to a ceasefire, in order to lay the foundation for a sustainable security architecture in the Middle East,” he noted.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Iran’s president signed a deal meant to end the war, with Tehran agreeing to dilute its enriched uranium in return for large-scale economic relief.
GLOBAL SOUTH’S GROWING ROLE
Another key theme of Beijing’s white paper is the growing role of the Global South, which refers to various countries around the world that are sometimes described as “developing”, “less developed” or “underdeveloped”.
Many of these nations are in the Southern Hemisphere, largely in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Wang Yi called for reforms to international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to increase the representation of developing countries in global affairs.
While the white paper does not explicitly state China’s ambitions, observers said the push reflects Beijing’s desire to play a greater leadership role among developing nations.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu said: “China believes the collective rise of the Global South is unstoppable. The days when a handful of countries could dominate international affairs are over and long-standing historical injustices should be addressed.”
The white paper also outlines China’s approach to emerging challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence and outer space.
Beijing said it would continue to promote international cooperation to ensure that technological development remains safe, inclusive and beneficial to all.