Building from Within the System
In June 2026, the State Council Information Office published a white paper titled 'More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China’s Principles, Proposals and Actions.' The document declared strong support for 'the international system with the U.N. at its core.' At the same time, it suggested reforms to shift focus toward new priorities. This strategy is clearly visible in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, or WAICO. This new group, formed with 29 countries, was signed exactly seven months after the white paper came out.
WAICO, with its headquarters in Shanghai, claims to follow the United Nations Charter. It adds a 'people-centered' approach as part of its structure. This move allows China to keep the current global system's appearance intact while subtly shifting attention to ideas like state sovereignty and economic development. The organization shows how China is reshaping global norms without rejecting them.
President Xi Jinping officially started the Global Governance Initiative in 2025. The event took place during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus meeting in Tianjin. The initiative focuses on addressing three major issues. First, the Global South is underrepresented. Second, international rules have weakened. Third, institutions struggle to manage new areas like artificial intelligence. The paper offers five key principles to guide action. These include sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and achieving 'real results.' This strategy positions China as a proactive player within the existing global system.
The white paper connects development, security, civilization, and governance into what it calls a 'complete action framework.' This idea suggests a comprehensive plan. However, it was not created as a grand design decades ago. Instead, Chinese influence has grown gradually through small, strategic steps. These steps have now taken shape as a doctrine. China supports this doctrine through new alliances, organizations, and regular interactions with international partners.
Tension Between Legal Norms and Power
China's focus on sovereign equality gives it a unique position. It allows the country to be seen as both a significant global leader and a representative for developing nations. The principle of sovereign equality protects smaller countries from being dominated by larger ones. At the same time, it shields China from external criticism about its internal policies. The Global Governance Initiative calls sovereign equality the 'foremost premise' for global governance.
This strategy creates a divide in the meaning of 'democratization.' On one hand, it refers to fairer representation among countries. On the other hand, it involves holding governments responsible to their own people. The white paper argues that achieving fairness among nations does not mean governments must be more open about their internal affairs. This tension also shows up in the idea of 'international rule of law.'
China often criticizes unilateral actions such as sanctions and the use of extraterritorial jurisdiction. These are real issues. Powerful nations have misused international law in the past. But China also resists any legal decisions it doesn't agree with. This was clear in the 2016 South China Sea arbitration case. China declared the tribunal's ruling 'illegal, null, and void.' This stance was repeated in the 2026 white paper, even though the tribunal only looked at maritime rights under the Law of the Sea Convention.
This example highlights a key point. China supports legal norms when they align with its goals. However, it rejects them when they challenge its territorial claims or internal decisions. The 2016 ruling is an example of how China interprets international law in a way that serves its strategic interests. It also shows how the country can be both a proponent of the rule of law and a critic of it, depending on the situation.
Beijing's approach to international law reflects its broader strategy. It builds on established rules, but reinterprets them through the lens of national sovereignty and state interests. The United Nations Charter plays a central role in this strategy. While it supports the Charter's language of sovereignty, it often downplays parts that focus on individual rights and freedoms. This allows China to present itself as a reformer, not a disruptor, even as it reshapes international norms.
The Global Governance Initiative is a clear example of this approach. It builds on older concepts, like the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the idea of a 'community with a shared future for humanity.' These ideas have been part of China's diplomatic strategy for years. However, they are now being reorganized into a more formal framework. The white paper suggests a comprehensive vision that ties together development, security, and governance. This vision is not a sudden departure from China's past actions, but a culmination of them.
China's influence is growing not through radical change but through incremental shifts. It introduces new organizations, like WAICO, while working within existing structures. This method allows it to reshape global governance without creating a direct rival to the current system. It also helps China build coalitions with other developing nations, reinforcing its role as a leader among the Global South.
The tension in China's approach lies in balancing two competing demands. On one hand, the country wants to reform international governance to reflect its priorities. On the other hand, it wants to maintain a system that gives it more influence. This is particularly evident in how it handles issues like the South China Sea. China criticizes Western powers for selective enforcement of international rules. But it also rejects any external legal challenges to its claims. This duality is a central part of China's global strategy.
The 2026 white paper and the launch of the Global Governance Initiative show how China is positioning itself as a leader in reforming international governance. It is not seeking to overturn the current system. Instead, it is reshaping it to align with its own values and goals. Through a mix of diplomacy, new institutions, and strategic reinterpretations of international law, China is building a vision that supports its growing global influence.