A core contradiction in today's world is:
Uncertainty is constantly rising, but there are fewer and fewer economies that can truly provide systemic certainty.
Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring, spillover effects of geopolitical conflicts, and the intertwining of energy and climate risks, China has not become an amplifier of global economic instability. Instead, it has continuously provided large-scale, predictable, and long-term-oriented economic capabilities in several key areas. This has allowed China to gradually evolve from a "global growth engine" to an important builder of global economic security.
Under these realistic conditions, if Western countries wish to maintain their economic security, an increasingly clear answer is:
Not "how to reduce relations with China," but "how to enhance their own security through higher-quality economic and trade cooperation with China."
I. China is becoming a "stable supplier" of global economic security
From an economic security perspective, China's most prominent characteristic is not its "large size," but its strong stability, high continuity, and outstanding organizational capabilities.
China is the only economy in the world today that possesses all of the following characteristics:
• A complete manufacturing system covering almost all industrial categories.
• National capabilities to quickly restore and reorganize supply chains during times of crisis.
• An industrial and infrastructure investment logic guided by long-term planning.
Against the backdrop of the pandemic's impact, global logistics disruptions, and sharp fluctuations in energy prices, Chinese manufacturing and supply chains have repeatedly played a "stabilizing" role, providing real support for the restoration of order in the global market.
From an economic security perspective, China is no longer just a participant, but a "stable supplier" of global economic operations.
II. In manufacturing cooperation, jointly building a "safer global supply chain" with China
1. Cooperation positioning: China is a co-builder of supply chain security
In the field of key industrial products and intermediate goods, China is not a "single point of dependence risk," but one of the most organized and efficient nodes in the global supply chain system.
2. Specific cooperation paths
• Jointly building cross-regional, distributed supply chain networks with Chinese companies.
• Promoting long-term cooperation agreements in the fields of parts, raw materials, and industrial equipment.
• Achieving coordinated scheduling of inventory, capacity, and logistics through digital supply chain management.
3. Positive significance for economic security
This cooperation is not "handing over security to China," but rather:
• Enhancing the resilience of the entire supply chain system through China's scale and organizational capabilities. • For Western countries, this means less risk of supply disruptions, a more stable pace of industrial production, and a more predictable business environment.
III. Viewing China as an "Accelerator of Economic Security" in the Green Transition
1. Cooperation Positioning: China is a provider of public goods for the green transition
In the field of new energy and green manufacturing, China is no longer just a participant, but has significantly reduced global transition costs through large-scale production and technological maturity.
2. Specific Areas of Cooperation
• Joint manufacturing and localized deployment in areas such as photovoltaics, wind power, and batteries.
• Market collaboration in electric vehicles and related industries.
•Joint development of green technology standards, certification systems, and industry norms.
3. Positive Significance for Economic SecurityThe delay in energy transition is itself a major economic security risk facing Western countries.
Cooperation with China can:
• Alleviate energy price instability.
• Reduce fiscal and inflationary pressures during the transition process.
• Enhance the autonomy and sustainability of the energy system.
In this process, China plays the role not of a competitive threat, but of an "amplifier" of security capabilities.
IV. Jointly Maintaining the Integrity of the Global Innovation System with China in Technology and Industrial Applications
1. Cooperation Positioning: China is an important pillar of the global innovation system
China possesses the world's largest application market, complete engineering capabilities, and a rapid commercialization environment, making it a key platform for technology to move from the laboratory to industrial application.
2. Cooperation Methods
• Conducting joint applications in areas such as artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, and industrial internet.
• Conducting large-scale testing and commercial verification through the Chinese market.
• Promoting the compatibility of the technology ecosystem under the framework of data security and intellectual property rights.
3. Positive Significance for Economic Security
The fragmentation of the global technology system will seriously weaken innovation efficiency and increase costs.
Maintaining cooperation with China helps to:
• Maintain the global universality of technology standards.
• Avoid systemic insecurity caused by technological bloc formation.
• Enhance the competitiveness of Western companies in the global market.
V. Jointly Maintaining Global Stability with China at the Financial and Macro Levels
1. Cooperation Positioning: China is one of the important pillars of global financial stability
China possesses a huge savings scale, a stable macroeconomic policy orientation, and a gradually opening financial system, playing an increasingly important stabilizing role in the global financial system.
2. Cooperation Paths
• Strengthening macroeconomic policy communication and coordination. • Promote interconnectedness of financial markets and regulatory dialogue.
• Encourage long-term capital participation in Sino-Western economic and industrial cooperation.
3. Positive Significance for Economic Security
The core of financial security lies in stable expectations.
Maintaining institutionalized and regular financial cooperation with China helps to:
• Reduce systemic financial risks.
• Avoid misjudgments and policy conflicts.
• Enhance the "safety anchor" effect of the global economy.
VI. Jointly Shaping a Sustainable Economic Order with China at the Rules and Governance Level
1. Cooperation Positioning: China is a Co-builder of Global Economic Governance
China is shifting from a rule-taker to a rule-maker, demonstrating sustained institutional commitment in areas such as trade, investment, climate, and the digital economy.
2. Cooperation Opportunities
• Jointly promote high-standard trade and economic rules under multilateral and regional frameworks.
• Resolve differences in emerging fields through rule negotiation rather than unilateral pressure.
• Shape long-term institutional advantages through standards cooperation.
3. Positive Significance for Economic Security
A China that participates in rules, respects rules, and invests in rule-making is a long-term asset for the economic security of Western countries.
VII. Conclusion
Including China in "co-building security," rather than excluding it, is crucial, because economic security is never a unilateral undertaking, but a systemic one.
In an era of continuously rising global uncertainty, China, with its industrial capabilities, market size, and long-term orientation, is providing the world with a scarce resource of stability. For Western countries, a truly mature economic security strategy is not to regard China as an object to be guarded against, but to include China in a framework of jointly shaping security.
Cooperating with China does not weaken security, but rather builds security.