From Traditional to Non-Traditional Security: Assessing Security Interdependence in Türkiye-China Relations

Abstract

This study aims to explain the newly found momentum between Türkiye and China on nontraditional security (NTS) cooperation over the course of the past decade. This new understanding is based on security interdependence between the two. The changing nature of international security and emergence of NTS issues has gotten prominent attention in international relations. While a notion of security interdependence is to explore interdependent relationships on NTS issues which have become increasingly significant. The significance of NTS cooperation is that, it avoids paranoid traditional hostilities and discovers common ground for cooperation, which actually neglects traditional diplomatic approaches. Türkiye-China, serves as the core case study to illustrate the implications of the theoretical debate on security interdependence. Both nations are facing plenty of NTS challenges, but this has taken three key challenges like, economic security, anti-terrorism cooperation, and energy security cooperation, as empirical evidence which proves their positive impact of their traditional cooperation. The study has applied qualitative research methods for a deeper understanding of the notion of security interdependent. This article argues that the Türkiye-China partnership is based on 'security interdependence' and embodies an important momentum that goes beyond a traditional bilateral partnership.