China as a constructive force against destructive politics in the world

Editor's note: Yuan Sha, a special commentator for CGTN, is Deputy Director of the Department for Global Affairs and International Organization Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of CGTN.

The theme of this year's Munich Security Report – "Under Destruction" – reflects the widespread concern over escalating geopolitical tensions, global trade disruptions, as well as profound uncertainty in the integrity of international rules, institutions and order.

Amid the pessimistic atmosphere in the conference room, China's consistent advocatation for reform rather than destruction of the global governance system with the United Nations as the core is significant, as it represents a constructive force against the destructive politics and injects renewed impetus in reviving multilateralism.

'Under Destruction'

The Munich Security Conference this year stands at a crucial juncture for global security, as the world is witnessing geopolitical tensions rising around the globe, from U.S.-Iran tensions, the worsening Gaza humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, to the U.S. military actions in Venezuela and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict in Europe, as well as the large-scale U.S. arms sales to the Taiwan region.

The 2026 Munich Security Report released ahead of the conference, which aptly portrays the world order as "Under Destruction," features an "elephant in the room" on the front page, and uses metaphors such as "bulldozers, wrecking balls, and chainsaws" to describe the prevailing destructive politics in some Western countries that aim to dismantle established rules and institutions.

The report is particularly critical of the current U.S. administration, arguing that it is a key factor in this destructive shift. The report pointedly calls President Donald Trump one of the "demolition men" due to his unilateral and coercive "Donroe Doctrine," tariff wars, withdrawal from international organizations, as well as his transactional approach to foreign affairs. It laments that the U.S.-led post-1945 international order is now under destruction, and the world is fragmenting into spheres of influence.

The assessment of this report is largely shared by the international community, which is vindicated in the worsening public mood as shown by the Munich Security Index.

Nostalgia is not a strategy

The trans-Atlantic crisis is visible at the conference. U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, who led a large U.S. delegation this year, attempted to mend fences with Europe, but still defends an America-First foreign policy and asserts that the West faces "civilizational erasure," reminiscent of U.S. Vice President JD Vance's bombastic criticism of Europe last year.

European politicians and experts agonize over the worsening trans-Atlantic divide, which is not just about policies, but more deeply over values and the "Westness." They also mourn the erosion of the "Kantian triangle of peace" that features multilateral institutions, economic integration and liberal democracy as three pillars of peace.

However, as the Munich Security Report cautioned, nostalgia and hope are not viable strategies. Western leaders need to be awakened to the sobering fact that the world is moving towards multipolarity, and it is futile and unfair to revive the "good old days" of Western hegemony.

In recent years, the conference has began to invite Global South countries in to the fora, transforming the once "trans-Atlantic family reunion" into a more global event. But it is still long overdue for Western countries to shed the Western-centric mentality, listen to the concerns from the West and the non-West alike, and jointly find viable, equitable solutions to contain the destructive forces and revitalize the international order that are more effective, equitable and inclusive for the world.

China as a constructive force

As a supporter of the Global South, China's participation in the conference is widely anticipated. At the special session on "China in the World," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took to the stage to convey China's stance and policies on global governance and international security.

Confronted with the growing deficit in global governance, Wang advocated for the Global Governance Initiative, which aims to create a more just and equitable global governance system through principles of sovereign equality, international rule of law, and multilateralism, a people-centered approach and concrete actions. In particular, he emphasized the importance of the United Nations and reforming the global governance system rather than destroying the current international order.

Wang's speech aligned with China's broader foreign policy, which has been consistent and clear, and borne out by its concrete actions over the years. Wang also had a busy schedule on the sidelines of the conference, where he engaged with world leaders and fellow diplomats in an effort to promote peace through consultation on hotspot issues from the Ukraine crisis to the Middle East tensions.

"Unity is strength, and unity brings hope," said Wang Yi, adding that "the more democratic international relations are, the more reliable world peace will be." His remarks demonstrated China's constructive role against destructive politics in the world, which would inject renewed confidence in the joint effort to bring the world from the brink of chaos and foster common security and shared prosperity for humanity.

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