China remains anchor of stability in unsettled world

At the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC), conversations returned again and again to a shared concern: how to steady an international order that appears increasingly fragile.

Against this backdrop, China's call for stability, multilateralism and practical cooperation has formed part of a broader search for direction.

The international order is under visible strain, with rules being challenged and unilateralism on the rise. The 2026 Munich Security Report, titled Under Destruction, highlights this trend, describing a world of "wrecking-ball politics," while the United States acts as a major destabilizer undermining established international rules.

Voices at the conference echoed these concerns. Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, noted that transatlantic relations are at a critical turning point. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the ties "can no longer be taken for granted," signaling cracks in Europe's relationship with Washington.

Yet the unease extends well beyond the Atlantic alliance. As unilateralism and power politics gain ground, the foundations of global peace and prosperity face mounting uncertainty. In this turbulent period, the global demand for stability and predictability has never been more urgent.

In this context, China's stability and pragmatism shine through. At the "China Session" on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed four key priorities: revitalizing the United Nations system, promoting collaboration and cooperation of all countries, upholding multilateralism, as well as stopping conflicts and promoting peace.

China's approach, as articulated in Munich, does not deny competition or disagreement. Rather, it emphasizes dialogue over decoupling, and coordination over confrontation.

Revitalizing the United Nations system highlights a vital recognition that global challenges, from climate change to public health to financial volatility, cannot be addressed through exclusive blocs alone.

The emphasis on stopping conflicts and promoting peace also reflects a broader pattern. In recent years, China has been committed to acting as a proponent of political settlement in flashpoints ranging from the Middle East to Ukraine, arguing that durable security cannot be built on zero-sum calculations.

Equally notable is the stress on cooperation and multilateralism as a stabilizing force. The problems facing today's international system do not lie with the United Nations itself, but with certain countries that magnify divisions, pursue bloc confrontation and cling to a Cold War mindset, eroding trust and undermining cooperation. Safeguarding multilateralism requires seeking common ground while respecting differences, as diversity should inspire dialogue and win-win cooperation rather than discord.

Wang's invocation of the Confucian idea -- that just like the way gentlemen engage with one another, there could be harmony without uniformity -- also underscored a central proposition that coexistence does not require conformity, and that cooperation can survive differences.

That message resonated with many participants who are grappling with a world no longer anchored to clear certainties. In an environment defined by fragmentation, the appeal of "harmony without uniformity" lies not in rhetoric, but in its practicality: it offers a framework for managing differences without turning them into divisions.

The anxieties at the MSC reflect a fractured global order. In this context, China's commitment to stability offers more than reassurance; it is a reliable anchor for international cooperation and a touchstone for predictability.