Building a Comprehensive Cooperative Security Partnership in Asia-Pacific Region

By Malik Qasim Mustafa

Senior Research Fellow,Institute of Strategic Studies,Islamabad.

Ladies&gentlemen,

First of all,I would like to express my gratitude to the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament(CPAPD)for organising“Wanshou Dialogue on Global Security”and providing me an opportunity to be a part of it.

Ladies&gentlemen,as we all know that in the 21st century the diversity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region is challenged by a wide spectrum of traditional and non-traditional security threats, which broadly includes:nuclear proliferation and territorial disputes;terrorism and transnational crimes;growing geo-political and military competition;emergence of new players and formation of defence alliances;slow peace process in troubled parts;naval build-ups and maritime challenges and humanitarian emergencies and environmental challenges. As a result,achieving all the goals of comprehensive security, sustainable development and a sustainable peace have become difficult for the developing and weaker nations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Initially,after the end of the Cold War,the Asia-Pacific communities focused more on rapid economic development,but they did not adequately address growing security challenges.By each passing day,these challenges are becoming more complex and extreme in their nature.These existing and emerging challenges are also making it difficult for the available instruments,institutions and mechanisms to deal with them effectively,and to ensure a lasting peace.Here question arise that what the Asia-Pacific communities require or they should do to deal with current and future security challenges?Although several bilateral,quadrilateral and multilateral measures,initiatives and dialogues have been initiated,the growing security complexities require that the Asia-Pacific nations should modify their old security structure and build a new comprehensive multilateral long-term cooperative security partnership,with shared responsibilities and prospects,like the Chinese concept of shared destiny and economic prosperity under its Belt and Road Initiative(BRI),with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC)as it flagship game-changer regional economic integrity project.

Key players from the Asia-Pacific region,including China,have already expressed their willingness and desire to revisit the existing security architecture.Most recently,in June 2018,at the 17th Shangri La Dialogue(SLD),China highlighted that the important task,currently faced by the Asia-Pacific region is to re-examine the concept of international security,re-evaluate the regional security architecture and focus on fundamentally resolving security issues.1China strongly advocates a common,comprehensive,cooperative and sustainable security concept.2It has already expressed its willingness to pursue security through dialogue and cooperation in its 2017 white paper on Asia-Pacific security.3The Chinese advocacy for the“establishment of a regional framework for security and cooperation”was already stated by Xi Jinping,in his May 2014 speech at the 4th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Shanghai and underlined again in the white paper on China’s military strategy,published in May 2015.4A key component of the Chinese security policy was also released at the 2016 Xiangshan Forum that the new security architecture should be held together by partnership not by any formal alliance system.5It believes that win-win cooperation would serve as the base for the formation of new international relations,which would be built by all,shared by all and safeguarded by all.6

Pakistan,like China,also firmly believes that to achieve a lasting peace,development and prosperity,there is a need to address key internal and external security challenges through cooperation and partnership as a shared future.Pakistan,despite its all internal and external security challenges,is making its every effort to ensure peace and prosperity at bilateral,regional and international levels.It respects international norms, institutions and mechanisms and is a part of several bilateral,regional and international initiatives.Pakistan strongly believes that in order to mitigate existing and emerging challenges to security,the international community, particularly developing nations,require collaborative and comprehensive partnership strategy,active diplomacy and dialogue and effective tools and mechanisms.Pakistan has always expressed its willingness to extend its support and cooperation with the international community.Pakistan’s involvement in Afghan peace process,its invitation to regional states to be a part of a shared destiny under the CPEC and sharing of its success stories of operation Zarb-e-Azb and National Action Plan(NAP)to combat terrorism and extremism are some recent examples.Pakistan has also been able to secure commitments and partnerships from regional countries to fight the menace of terrorism.A recent formation of Pakistan,China,Tajikistan and Afghanistan Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism(QCCM)is also another example.

Building a Comprehensive Cooperative Security Partnership

Ladies&gentlemen,here question arises that how a long-term comprehensive cooperative security partnership could be built for the Asia-Pacific region?(Back in 2016,I was also a part of the 2016 Xiangshan Forum and this forum addressed wide ranging traditional and non-traditional security issues being faced by the Asia-Pacific communities.)I firmly believe that“Wanshou Dialogue on Global Security”is going to promote the very idea of the formation of a new comprehensive cooperative security partnership in the Asia-Pacific region.Since the commencement of this dialogue we all are not only discussing global security related challenges,particularly to the Asia-Pacific region,but we have been also assessing their likely impact.We have been trying to revise the existing security architecture and the very concept of ensuring a lasting peace in the region.All these deliberations point towards the need to draw new comprehensive mechanisms and tools to deal with emerging and future security challenges.In order to build a long-term comprehensive cooperative security partnership mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region,following recommendations should be considered;

>There is a realisation of“Our People,Our Community,Our Vision,”but a broader approach for a comprehensive human security and development is missing.Therefore,a comprehensive security partnership should be developed around a common understanding and a common vision that human security and development will lead to a lasting peace.

>The Asia-Pacific communities should develop this common vision based on the Principles of Humanity; strengthen their political will;enhance their trust;reduce their traditional hostilities;allocate more resources and work for a comprehensive security partnership in the region.

>A greater degree of coordination and active cooperation of all regional communities,at all levels,is prerequisite for developing such a comprehensive security partnership mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region.And it should be aimed at taking effective and credible collective efforts on the basis of consensus.

> To achieve the objectives of an all-inclusive security,new security mechanisms and tools should be devised from local,national,sub-regional and regional perspectives,as states alone cannot counter major internal and external security challenges.This approach can only effectively work when there is continuity and coordination between all policies at all levels.It will also help to identify right security related tools,which could further replicated at other communities.

>For a comprehensive security approach,there is a need to reinforce a genuine and practical regional partnership framework.A true understanding of the existing and emerging challenge and to fight for common security challenges,states require a genuine and practical regional cooperation.Such partnership should be aimed at reducing social,economic and political vulnerabilities of a particular territory,area,or group.In this regard the role of regional organisations can be reinforced to provide a shared platform to address security challenges.Existing regional organisations can be tasked with the responsibilities of a joint human development task force; a joint coordination and capacity building platform;a joint legal coordination mechanism and a joint venue to link with other regional and global organisations.

>There is a need to develop sub-regional and regional dialogue mechanisms to identify security challenges and their understanding.The Wanshou Dialogue is such an example.This can be completed by establishing joint regional coordination centres and through an integrated network of all national level centres,which contains rapid assessment and analysis of the immediate security challenge and peace related needs.

>There is a need to improve bilateral relations to build trust for increased cooperation and to achieve comprehensive security objectives.

> Bilateral traditional hostilities and trans-boundary irritants like terrorism have gained enough strength to disrupt peace prospects among states.Therefore,a move towards resolution of deep rooted issues is necessary to remove mistrust.Both multilateral and bilateral approaches are necessary to build trust among adversaries to promote a lasting peace.

> A need to enhance human and institutional capacity at all levels. A comprehensive capacity-building approach should be aimed at developing rights tools to ensure security and lasting peace.This requires a top to bottom approach for capacity-building at local level and a bottom to top approach to bridge human security and human development and peace.

A single and isolated approach and effort cannot ensure a comprehensive regional security.A sincere and holistic national and regional approach will help to form peaceful and prosper communities across the region.A consolidated and well coordinated approach,in continuity with local and national human security policies can help to deal with existing and emerging security challenges.It is now a time for a genuine and practical commitment at all levels to secure mankind’s prosperity and peace.

Pakistan is committed to the principles of justice,fairness,non-discrimination,and equal security for all.It has always followed internationally recognised norms of interstate relations, i.e. respect for sovereignty,non-interference;non-aggression and peaceful settlement of disputes.Pakistan is ready to utilise its national resources for regional and international cooperation for sustainable development and sustainable peace.

Footnotes:

1.Wang Lili and Chen Yao,“Chinese Military Experts Expound‘China Plan’ at Shangri-La Dialogue,”China Military,June 4,2018,http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2018-06/04/content_8051700.htm

2.Ibid.

3.Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China,“China’s Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation,”January 11,2017,http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1429771.shtml

4.“At the 2016 Xiangshan Forum,China Outlines a Vision for Regional Security Governance,”Diplomat,October 15,2016,https://thediplomat.com/2016/10/at-the-2016-xiangshan-forum-chinaoutlines-a-vision-for-regional-security-governance/

5.Ibid.

6.“China’s Security Concept Contributes to Asia’s Long-term Security,Development,”Xinhua,June 2,2018,http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/02/c_137225923.htm