CHINA’S PERIPHERAL DIPLOMACY AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL: A BILATERAL DOCUMENT ANALYSIS

Based on a keyword-in-context (KWIC) analysis of 894 bilateral documents, the study finds that UN references are significantly more likely to appear in security-related contexts in China’s relations with its neighbours than with more distant partners. However, the UNSC is not used as an operational tool for crisis management. Instead, it is framed as a source of legal legitimacy, institutional authority, and a platform for reform discourse. In practice, security governance is shifting toward regional organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and ASEAN-led mechanisms, as well as bilateral arrangements. The entire CAA Paper is available here.