Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Wang Qing released his article on Jakarta Post entitled "East Asia’s stability cannot be taken for granted" on 8 May 2026, calling for joint efforts to promote regional security governance and build a peaceful, safe and secure home. The full text is as follows:

The world today is far from being tranquil. The Ukraine crisis is still dragging on. The war in the Middle East has put both the existing world order and the global economy under severe challenge. Efforts are being made in the international community to help the region emerge from the shadows of conflict at an early date.

China is also working actively and constructively to restore peace to the Middle East. Recently, President Xi Jinping put forward four propositions on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. Earlier, China and Pakistan also jointly proposed a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region.

As we strive to deal with the chaotic situation in the Middle East and overcome its spillover effects, we should also seriously ponder on this one big question: What lessons can our region, East Asia, learn to avoid falling into security predicaments and instability? 

Compared with the pain of Europe and the chaos in the Middle East, East Asia has for long maintained overall stability and rapid economic growth. However, peace and development can never be taken for granted. 

Our region is still facing many uncertainties and destabilizing factors. Hot-spot issues remain unresolved with new manifestations from time to time. Disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests persist. Acts of "neo-militarism" by an individual country are posing a direct threat to the post-war international order. Some countries outside the region are busy cobbling together exclusive "small circles" in the name of security cooperation and provoking confrontation for their own geopolitical interests.

Against an international situation fraught with chaos and changes, and in the face of regional security challenges, we should uphold the idea of building a community with a shared future, and adopt a security perspective that emphasizes common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

We should eliminate the root causes of conflicts through development, address security challenges with a win-win mindset, and foster an enabling environment for development through security cooperation. We should say no to the Cold War mentality, zero-sum games and confrontation by exclusive "small-circles" and join hands in building a peaceful, safe and secure home for us all.

We should draw experience and wisdom from history and prevent the return of the law of the jungle. The international system with the United Nations at its core and the contemporary international order based on international law have been instrumental in ensuring overall peace, development and progress in the post-World War II world. 

We must firmly uphold the basic norms governing international relations enshrined in the UN Charter, such as sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, no threat or use of force and peaceful settlement of international disputes. We should categorically oppose power politics and hegemonic acts. At present, the region must be highly vigilant against moves of "neo-militarism" and prevent this dangerous specter from further gaining momentum and bringing scourge to our region.

We should continue to carry out political and security dialogue and cooperation, give better play to the role of the ASEAN Regional Forum to enhance mutual understanding and trust, and promote cooperation in addressing non-traditional security challenges such as transnational crimes, energy and food crises, as well as natural disasters. We should jointly improve the regional security architecture and promote regional security governance.

We should join hands in promoting the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and strive to complete the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as scheduled. We should also support and facilitate proper settlement of regional hot-spot issues such as the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in the ASEAN way. The way in which we peacefully settle disputes through dialogue and consultation will set a fine example for countries in other parts of the world.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). China and ASEAN will also celebrate the 35th anniversary of our dialogue partnership and the fifth anniversary of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Over the years, China and ASEAN have upheld the principles of mutual respect, win-win cooperation, mutual help, inclusiveness and mutual learning and made concerted efforts in fostering an anchor for world peace and stability, a powerhouse for growth and a highland for cooperation. Our shared journey is undoubtedly the pride and fortune of peoples in our region.

Going forward, let us answer the calling of the changing international situation, build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, follow a regional security governance path featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and jointly sustain and promote the hard-won peace and development in our region. In so doing, we will provide more stability and positive energy for peace, stability and prosperity in the world.