China Pushes for New Global Order at SCO Summit, With Support from Russia and India:

At the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Tianjin, China, President Xi Jinping announced a series of ambitious plans aimed at reshaping the global governance landscape. The summit, attended by major global players including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signals a growing challenge to U.S.-led international institutions. Xi unveiled plans to accelerate the creation of an SCO Development Bank to support member nations, as well as a new international platform for energy cooperation, with a focus on green energy and industrial development. As part of this initiative, China pledged $1.4 billion in loans over the next three years to SCO countries. In a move that highlights China's push for technological independence, Xi also opened the door for SCO members to adopt China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system, presenting it as a viable alternative to the U.S.-controlled GPS. “The world is facing new challenges,” Xi said, criticizing what he calls a "Cold War mentality" and calling for a more just and balanced world order with multiple power centers. He stressed the need to reject bullying and support a UN-centered international system. Putin echoed Xi’s vision, expressing support for a shift toward a new global governance system. “The SCO can take a leading role in shaping a fairer world,” Putin stated. He also criticized the use of financial tools as instruments of “neocolonialism,” calling for reforms in the IMF and World Bank. The SCO, founded in 2001, has expanded significantly. Its full members now include China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, and several Central Asian nations. Laos joined this year as a “partner” country, bringing the total number of members and partners to 27, including observer states like Afghanistan and Mongolia. While Modi and Xi met on the sidelines to discuss their long-standing border dispute, India chose not to participate in China’s upcoming military parade. Meanwhile, Putin is set to attend the event, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of Japan’s WWII surrender. Notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Myanmar’s military chief are also expected to attend the parade. Despite growing momentum, some analysts remain cautious. Critics argue that SCO’s anti-terrorism focus has often been a cover for cracking down on dissent, particularly in China’s Xinjiang region, where over 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained since 2018. Still, the summit reflects China’s rising diplomatic activity and growing appeal to countries dissatisfied with Western-led systems. “Even if the SCO’s power remains limited, China is clearly on a diplomatic upswing,” said Derek Grossman, a geopolitical analyst. As global alliances continue to shift, China is positioning the SCO as a strategic counterweight to the West, with growing support from nations seeking a multipolar world order.

NEWS