Opinion | China is ready to be an anchor in a brave new multipolar world

What seems clear from Munich Security Conference talk is an evolution towards a pluralistic world order. We need an effective governance framework

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Published: 5:30am, 4 Mar 2025

The title of the latest Munich Security Report says it all. After 2022’s “Turning the Tide – Unlearning Helplessness”, 2023’s “Re: vision” and last year’s “Lose-Lose?”, this year’s tome, released ahead of the Munich Security Conference last month, is called “Multipolarisation”. The unipolar era has ended.

I was the sole Chinese speaker invited to the conference’s kick-off event and attended the report’s release. Having taken part in the Munich Security Conference’s side events for years, I reckon far more delegates this year were from the Global South, a reflection of rising multipolarity.

As US President Donald Trump’s agenda takes shape, many attendees seem to view China as a stabilising counterweight – a role China appears poised to embrace.

The conference’s thematic arc mirrors a broader reckoning. Three years ago, the debate over “collective helplessness” captured the disarray in the transatlantic sphere. Last year’s exploration of “lose-lose dynamics” framed the tensions of zero-sum competition. This year’s focus on multipolarisation reflects a world of dispersing powers – a transition turbocharged by Trump 2.0.

Trump’s tariff threats and deal-making instincts dominated Munich’s corridors, casting a shadow over discussions as attendees grappled with the implications of his aggressive trade agenda.

Amid this, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s call for multilateralism resonated deeply, offering a counterpoint that emphasised cooperation over confrontation in a shifting geopolitical landscape. His vision of an “equal and orderly multipolar world” struck a chord with those seeking stability, while his critique of protectionism underscored China’s contrasting approach to global ties.