The National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) hosted the Eighth International Defense Forum in Beijing this week, where senior military officials and experts agreed that fairness and common development are key contributors to lasting peace and prosperity amid challenges of hegemonism and unilateralism.
The forum agenda included challenges in global security and the international order, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, or World War II. It also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
The critical outcomes from the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War 80 years ago include sovereign equality, non-aggression and a collective security mechanism under the United Nations Charter.
At the defense forum, military officials warned that these UN-based core principles for the international order are facing serious challenges.
"Some member states have powers of veto. This is one of the biggest problems that is there, because they don't use it well. Like we've seen that it is serving more of their interests than the interests of the world," said Zambian Brigadier General Benedicto Kepi.
The United States, earlier this month, again vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as UN relief chief Tom Fletcher warned that "the world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat".
"It highlights the importance of the international security cooperation among the countries. And it also highlights that peace should be a shared responsibility among all the countries. All aggressions will undermine the sovereign equality amongst all the member states," said Pakistani Brigadier General Omar Rashid Sheikh.
"Peace should be benefit for all of the countries in the world, not for some countries," said Iranian Colonel Mohsen Rahmani.
As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China proposed the Global Security Initiative with a win-win mindset through multilateralism.
"China is creating an initiative of democratization of the governance system of the world. We're seeing that China is coming up with an initiative that is helping the world to become a better place," said Zambian Brigadier General Benedicto Kepi.
Military officials call for fairness, common development at defense forum
