Column: Toward a new narrative of Arab national security: thoughts inspired by China's water governance report

by Hebah Abbas Mohammed Abbas

Among all the challenges confronting the Arab world today, water remains the most sensitive lifeline -- the issue with the greatest impact on security, stability, and development.

In my view, the water question is no longer merely an environmental or service-related matter. It has become a national security issue no less significant than energy, food or political stability. This understanding prompted me to pause before a report, titled "Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing -- A Study on the New Era River Strategy," not simply to compare it with our own reality, but to understand the philosophy behind it and explore whether some of its features could inspire a new Arab narrative on water security.

What first caught my attention in the report is an idea that, I believe, lies at the heart of China's transformation: Water governance is not an infrastructure project; it is a state project. China does not treat rivers as isolated water resources, but as national institutions that carry the memory of place, support development, protect stability, and reinforce the economy. This holistic approach opens a wide door for reflection on the realities of our region, where natural scarcity intersects with climate pressures and rising demand, making the need for a "coherent vision" more urgent than ever.

In China's experience, I found more than statistics or achievements. I found a comprehensive way of thinking that begins with recognizing water as the foundation of sustainability and extends to designing policies to protect and develop resources, not only for the present but for future generations. And although China possesses only a limited share of the world's freshwater, it has managed its resources efficiently enough to meet the needs of a vast population while sustaining a globally influential economy. This fact, from an Arab perspective, underscores that the volume of resources is not the measure of success -- vision, policy, and governance are.

When we look at the Middle East with realism, we see that water challenges are accelerating. Temperatures are rising, groundwater reserves are declining, reliance on desalination is increasing, and population pressure is intensifying in ever-expanding cities. Yet many water policies in the region remain confined to short-term thinking, focusing more on securing water for today than on creating frameworks that can protect water security for decades to come. Here lies the value of China's experience for the Arab world: not in replicating what China has done, but in understanding the logic that guides its approach.

For the Arabs, the most critical lesson from China's experience is the shift from resource management to risk management.

China chose to anticipate challenges rather than wait for them, making technology a core component of water management, from quality monitoring and early-warning systems to digital basin analysis and improving efficiency across all sectors of consumption.

Such a shift could make a concrete difference in the Middle East, especially as many countries in the region are investing in renewable energy and desalination, yet still lack the smart systems needed to connect water, food, energy, climate, and the economy within a unified framework.

The report also reiterates the importance of integrated basin management, a critical concept for our region, where several rivers and aquifers cross borders.

In my view, no Arab country can secure its water future in isolation from its neighbors. Water, by nature, flows across boundaries and does not adhere to political borders. Regional cooperation -- long more of a slogan than a reality -- may well be the practical starting point for shaping a new approach that strengthens stability, reduces conflicts, and creates shared development opportunities.

What makes me firmly believe in the need for a new Arab water-security narrative is the recognition that the challenges ahead will not spare those who rely on temporary fixes. We need a mindset that speaks to the future as much as to the present, and a vision as clear as the one China has presented. But this vision must be rooted in Arab realities, responsive to Arab needs, built on our strengths, and capable of confronting our vulnerabilities.

In conclusion, I see China's report not merely as a technical document, but as an invitation to deep reflection. The report is a call to reassess our relationship with water and understand that water security is the foundation upon which the sustainability of the Arab state is built. If we aspire to a more stable and secure Middle East, the first step must be to redefine water security and incorporate it into a broader Arab narrative that protects our future and ensures our survival in a rapidly changing world.

Editor's note: The author, Hebah Abbas, is the chairwoman of the Sustainability Committee at the Kuwait Water Association, a technical adviser to the association, and a member of the Executive Committee of the World Utilities Congress 2026.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.