China publishes Global Governance Initiative calling for UN reform, opposing unilateral actions

| 551 articles from RT, South China Morning Post, Dawn, The Straits Times and 36 more

What's Happening

China published a document on June 17 outlining its Global Governance Initiative, calling for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council to increase representation of developing countries and opposing unilateral actions. The document emphasizes multilateralism as the only viable path forward, stating that China will not allow those with the 'bigger fist' to dominate. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also called on the UN Security Council to play a greater role in supporting the next phase of US-Iran negotiations, while the Lowy Institute reported that China's capability to strike Australia with missiles is growing, though the Chinese embassy did not comment on the findings.

How We Got Here

In September 2025, Russian energy giant Gazprom announced that it had signed a legally binding memorandum with China National Petroleum Corporation to advance the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a project designed to transport 50 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually to China via Mongolia. The claim, not confirmed by Beijing at the time, was part of a broader pattern of deepening energy ties between the two countries. Analysts at the journal Intereconomics and the Berlin-based MERICS think tank would later characterize the Russia-China relationship as symbiotic but deeply asymmetrical and fundamentally unbalanced, driven more by external circumstances than by internal dynamics. China, meanwhile, continued to assert its position on the Ukraine conflict: that it has not provided lethal weapons to any party and maintains legitimate trade relations, a stance that increasingly drew Western scrutiny. On the economic front, China implemented zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of products from least-developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations effective December 2024, underscoring its focus on South-South cooperation. This combination of energy partnership with Russia and outreach to developing nations set the stage for a more assertive Chinese foreign policy in 2026. The expiration of the New START treaty on February 5, 2026, removed the last major bilateral arms control agreement between the United States and Russia. China had publicly rejected calls to enter three-way nuclear negotiations with the two powers, insisting its arsenal remains limited. A senior US State Department official claimed that a preparatory arms control meeting with a Chinese delegation took place in Washington the day after the treaty expired, and that a more substantive meeting was scheduled for Geneva on February 24. At the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on February 23, US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw accused China of massively expanding its nuclear arsenal without transparency and claimed that data showed China conducted a secret underground nuclear test in June 2020. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization stated that its monitoring system detected no signals consistent with a nuclear explosion during the alleged period. Chinese Ambassador Shen Jian rejected the accusations as groundless, accusing Washington of using the claims as a pretext to resume nuclear testing. The United States described the lapse of New START as an opportunity to achieve a better arms control agreement that must include China, while Beijing called for US-Russia strategic stability dialogue. In late February 2026, following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and US military strikes, China condemned the attacks and dispatched special envoy Zhai Jun to the region to attempt de-escalation. Chinese officials opposed the US and Israeli military actions, calling for a political solution, but also signaled a priority on maintaining stable relations with Washington, particularly with an eye on an upcoming summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Beijing. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Iran had no choice but to defend itself after being attacked during negotiations, and Wang expressed support for Iran's sovereignty while conveying that Beijing remained impartial. The war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening energy supplies. China lowered its 2026 economic growth target to 4.5 percent, citing the complex external environment. Analysts noted that China had built strategic oil reserves and could turn to Russia to offset energy disruptions, but warned that the buffers were temporary. While the Middle East crisis dominated headlines, tensions in the South China Sea persisted. The Philippines declared a national energy emergency on March 24, citing supply concerns exacerbated by the Hormuz disruption, and expressed openness to resuming joint oil and gas exploration talks with China. In late March, China and the Philippines held their first foreign ministry consultations in three years, with Manila affirming its adherence to the one-China principle and non-recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state. However, Philippine authorities accused China of harassment and dangerous maneuvers against its vessels. Chinese officials denied the claims and accused the Philippines of intruding into Chinese territory and conducting joint patrols with outside powers. A Philippine aircraft was allegedly locked by a Chinese fire control radar near Sabina Shoal in early March. China's Coast Guard claimed to have expelled Philippine ships from training areas near Huangyan Dao. By early April, the Philippines conducted joint naval patrols with the United States, Japan, and Australia, ahead of the annual Balikatan exercises. China's military responded with readiness patrols near Scarborough Shoal and Huangyan Dao, accusing the Philippines of disrupting regional stability. In mid-March, a US intelligence report assessed that Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027 and have no fixed timeline for unification, marking a shift from prior warnings. The report noted that China continues to build military capabilities but prefers unification without force. China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson reiterated that Beijing will never renounce the use of force to achieve reunification. At the same time, China offered Taiwan energy stability under its rule, saying peaceful reunification would bring better protection of Taiwan's resources. Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te stated that energy supplies were assured, with more US gas imports expected from June after Taiwan authorized a $9 billion arms purchase from Washington. President Donald Trump played down the threat of Chinese military action, claiming Xi Jinping told him China will not attack Taiwan while Trump is in office. Trump later called arms sales to Taiwan a 'very good negotiating chip' and sought to postpone a meeting with Xi originally planned for Beijing in March. The summit eventually took place in May. In late May, Japan and the Philippines announced they would begin formal negotiations to delimit their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in waters east of Taiwan. Beijing condemned the talks as illegal and invalid, asserting that China has its own exclusive economic zone and continental shelf rights in the area and that any delimitation must involve China. China's foreign ministry said the talks were a serious violation of international law. On June 1, the Chinese Coast Guard conducted its first independent law enforcement patrol east of Taiwan, deploying vessels to the area. On June 6, China's Ministry of Transport launched a special maritime law enforcement operation east of Taiwan, stating its purpose was to exercise administrative and legal jurisdiction at sea and protect national rights. Taiwan's coast guard deployed vessels to monitor the operation and accused China of harassing commercial shipping by demanding information and claiming jurisdiction. The state-controlled People's Daily warned Japan and the Philippines that they were becoming 'a source of trouble' and a risk to regional peace. China-Russia relations deepened in the first half of 2026 through a series of high-level contacts. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Beijing in mid-April, where he stated that Russia could compensate for China's energy shortages resulting from the Strait of Hormuz disruption. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Lavrov and called the relationship a stabilizing force in a turbulent world. The two countries coordinated their stance at the United Nations, vetoing a Security Council resolution that sought to encourage coordinated defensive measures for maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing it was biased against Iran. They jointly proposed an alternative draft resolution. In mid-May, Presidents Putin and Xi held a summit in Beijing, where Xi called for a Middle East ceasefire. The two leaders failed to reach a breakthrough on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, with pricing and other issues unresolved, but issued a joint statement condemning US missile defense and nuclear policy and formalizing a vision of a multipolar world order. Nearly all Russia-China trade was settled in national currencies, observers noted. Throughout the period, China engaged in extensive diplomacy with countries across the globe. In April, multiple foreign leaders visited Beijing, including Thai Princess Sirindhorn, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Vietnamese President To Lam, and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. China announced that starting May 1, it would fully lift tariffs on imports from most African countries. Premier Li Qiang convened a high-level energy security meeting in late April, urging a 'bottom-line mentality' to secure supplies amid the Hormuz crisis. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited China in late April and agreed on jet fuel cooperation, as China supplied inputs sustaining Australia's resources sector. Wang Yi met UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock in Beijing, expressing support for multilateralism. In May, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Beijing, and Wang Yi praised Pakistan's mediation between Iran and the United States. China also chaired a ministerial-level UN Security Council debate in May on upholding the UN Charter, where Wang Yi warned against unilateral military actions and illegitimate sanctions. The United States repeatedly raised concerns about China's role in the Iran crisis. In early April, US intelligence claimed that China was preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran within weeks. China denied the allegation as untrue. President Trump warned that if China proceeds with the delivery, it would face 'significant problems.' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of funding Iran by purchasing 90 percent of its energy. China's foreign ministry urged the US to stop baseless claims. In late April, Trump stated that US forces intercepted a ship carrying a 'gift from China' to Iran, but again China denied involvement. The US Treasury sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical in late April for alleged Iranian oil ties, marking the most significant action against China's refining industry. Hengli rejected the allegations, stating it has never conducted business involving Iranian oil and that it would settle future crude purchases in yuan. China condemned the sanctions as illegal and unilateral. The US also announced it would impose additional tariffs if China exported arms, and China vowed countermeasures. Asia-Pacific defense spending rose 8.1 percent to $681 billion in 2025, according to SIPRI, reflecting growing military investments. In mid-June, the Lowy Institute reported that China's capacity to launch a direct missile strike on Australia is growing, driven by long-range and hypersonic weapons. The report identified the DF-27 missile and potentially a conventionally armed intercontinental ballistic missile as key threats. The Chinese embassy in Australia did not comment on the findings. At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in late May, senior officials from multiple countries addressed security concerns. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies to increase defense investments. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated that the country remains under severe threat from China and dismissed Chinese assistance offers as 'guileful.' Chinese defence officials skipped the dialogue for a second year, sending only academics. The Chinese embassy in Seoul warned the US Forces Korea commander against describing South Korea as a 'dagger' aimed at China, calling his remarks belligerent. As the Iran war continued to roil global energy markets, China positioned itself as a mediator. After the US and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire in early April, China called for a comprehensive end to hostilities. Iran's ambassador to Beijing asked China to be one of the security guarantors for Middle East peace. China and Russia had earlier proposed a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, and later succeeded in having it circulated. In May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US hoped to convince China to play a more active role in persuading Iran to change course. President Trump planned to discuss the Iran war with Xi in Beijing. At the UN, Chinese envoy Fu Cong called for a comprehensive ceasefire and condemned US military deployments after the ceasefire. Iran's foreign minister was denied a US visa to attend a UN debate China convened in May. On June 16, Wang Yi told Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar that the UN Security Council should play a greater role in supporting the next phase of US-Iran negotiations. On June 17, 2026, China published a document detailing its Global Governance Initiative, which calls for comprehensive reform of the United Nations and its Security Council to increase representation of developing countries. The document opposes unilateral actions and emphasizes that multilateralism is the only viable path forward, stating explicitly that China will never allow those with the 'bigger fist' to dominate. This publication represents the culmination of China's year-long diplomatic push for a multipolar world order, a vision it has promoted through its UN Security Council presidency, its joint declarations with Russia, and its outreach to the Global South. The initiative directly challenges the US-led international system and comes amid ongoing tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, the Iran conflict, and trade disputes with the US and Europe. The document also serves as a policy blueprint for China's foreign policy going forward, asserting Beijing's role as a champion of developing nations and a proponent of international law even as it faces accusations from Washington and its allies of undermining that very framework.

Timeline

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