"Peace Blueprint from Beijing: Xi's Four-Point Plan Aims to Unlock the Middle East's Security Deadlock"
Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward a four-point proposal for building a new security architecture in the Middle East, offering what Beijing describes as a viable path out of the region's long-running security predicament, according to a commentary published by People's Daily Online on September 9.
The proposal was unveiled during Xi's recent talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, where the Chinese leader said China supports regional countries in developing good-neighborly relations and exploring a security framework "based on a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security," People's Daily reported.
According to the commentary, authored by He Yin, the four pillars of the plan include fostering the internal driving force for common security, adopting a comprehensive regional approach, strengthening security through development, and reinforcing international coordination.
On the first point, People's Daily emphasized that "people in the Middle East should remain masters of their own affairs," noting that China welcomes the recent wave of reconciliation across the region and institutionalized consultations among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt.
The commentary stressed that the Palestinian issue "remains at the core of the Middle East question" and "should never be overlooked or marginalized." It argued that piecemeal measures cannot address root causes, and that the immediate priority is advancing the two-state solution, "as the international community expects."
Development forms the third pillar of the proposal. People's Daily quoted the principle that "security is the prerequisite for development, and development provides the foundation for security," adding that China stands ready to help safeguard international shipping lanes and expand development cooperation to "gradually eliminate the conditions that give rise to conflict."
On international coordination, the commentary urged respect for the UN Charter and international law, calling on major countries outside the region to "reject double standards" and back UN mediation efforts. It warned that unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" imposed without UN authorization "cannot achieve their intended objectives."
Concluding, People's Daily argued that an unstable Middle East means "an unsettled world," and that China — "seeking no geopolitical advantage and pursuing no bloc confrontation" — has placed the fundamental interests of the region's people at the center, offering "a clear direction" for resolving the security predicament.