In a development that underscores China’s growing assertiveness on the world stage, Beijing has published its first-ever white paper on national security. While the document may not contain surprising policy revelations or drastic shifts, its very existence signals a historic pivot in China’s global posture. It reflects a country that now views itself not only as a regional heavyweight but as an indispensable global actor – one that is prepared to shape international norms, confront perceived threats, and openly challenge US-led hegemonic structures.

This white paper marks a decisive departure from the philosophy that guided Chinese diplomacy for decades. Since the era of Deng Xiaoping, China’s strategic motto had been to “hide your strength, bide your time.” That era is over. Under President Xi Jinping, China has embraced what is now widely referred to domestically as a “new era,” one that fuses economic modernization with a more expansive and securitized vision of national development. Security is no longer an appendage to growth – it is a co-equal pillar.

China’s white paper is the culmination of over a decade of transformation in national governance under Xi Jinping. Starting with the formation of the National Security Commission in 2014, Xi instituted a far-reaching reorientation of China’s priorities. Security, once narrowly defined in military and political terms, now encompasses virtually every dimension of national life: from cyberspace and biotechnology to food supply, outer space, and even deep-sea exploration.

This is not merely bureaucratic expansion. The scope of China’s national security doctrine reflects a deliberate calculation that the country is now encircled by mounting external threats. These threats range from trade restrictions and foreign sanctions to ideological pressure and technological containment. To Chinese leaders, the increasingly unstable international system – accelerated by multipolarity and US retrenchment – demands a........

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