A Look Back at the Rising Powers at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Ahead of the G20

The Rising Powers’ seasonal summits began last month with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation convening in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on June 13-14, 2019. Heads of State from members China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan gathered alongside representatives from nine observer nations and international organizations. Most notably, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attended and called for the remaining signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to honor the deal despite the US’s withdrawal and re-imposition of sanctions against the country. As the SCO Summit convened, two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman were attacked, and the US was quick to put the blame on Iran. But in the resulting Bishkek Declaration of the SCO’s Head of State Council, the member states stated that they “believe the consistent implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme to be a priority and, in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, call on all the participants to strictly fulfill their obligations for the comprehensive and effective implementation of the document.” There was a perceptible sense that the G20 was likely to be more acrimonious than the SCO.

CHINA

In a press release covering President Xi Jinping’s meeting with President Rouhani, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed China’s support for the JCPOA and its relationship with Iran: “The Chinese side always views its relations with Iran from a strategic and long-term perspective. No matter how the international and regional situation may change, the Chinese side is ready to work with the Iranian side to push for the sustained and steady development of China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.” In an interview with the Russian press, Xi emphasized the importance of Sino-Russian cooperation in multilateral organizations such as SCO and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa): “In the 18 years since the SCO’s inception, China and Russia have maintained close coordination and collaboration. As a result, the organization has kept growing and made important contribution to peace, stability, development and prosperity in our region.”

INDIA

Fresh from a landslide reelection last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a thinly veiled jab at his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan in a speech regarding SCO member states’ responsibility to combat terrorism: “Countries sponsoring, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable.” Foreign Secretary Keshav Gokhale reported that Modi had aired his country’s frustrations with Chinese President Xi: “Pakistan needs to create an atmosphere free of terror, but at this stage we do not see it happening. We expect Islamabad to take concrete action.” A planned meeting between Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the SCO summit was reportedly cancelled due to schedule conflict.

JAPAN

Just before the SCO opened, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a state visit to Iran June 12-13, and was the first trip by a Japanese Prime Minister since 1979.  During his stay, two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman–including one Japanese ship–were attacked. Prime Minister Abe reiterated the need for calm and Japan’s commitment to de-escalating the situation: “Armed conflict needs to be prevented at all costs. Peace and stability in the Middle East is indispensable not only for this region but for global prosperity. No one is hoping for war. We would like to play the maximum role we can for easing tension. That is what brought me to Iran.” The US denied Japan a waiver from sanctions for importing Iranian oil in April.

RUSSIA

In his speech to the SCO Heads of State Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that much “work to settle crises and peacefully resolve conflicts” in the region would be under Russia’s presidency of the group following the summit’s end. In addition to assisting Afghanistan with “achieving national reconciliation and economic recovery” and combatting terrorism in Syria, protecting the JCPOA was on the list of Russia’s priorities: “The US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – as a reminder, it was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council in 2015 – is not only destabilising the region, but also can undermine the nuclear non-proliferation regime. While presiding in the SCO, we intend to work to ensure that the parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action fulfil their obligations. We consider this to be the only logical and correct path.”

  • State-owned TASS provided an English summary of an article published by Russian newspaper Izvestia that featured an interview with Sergey Pravosudov, Director General of the National Energy Institute, regarding the role of energy security in the recent strengthening of Sino-Russian ties. Pravosudov explained that US pressure on China is encouraging the country to look for more secure sources of energy: “The Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline and the Power of Siberia gas pipeline are becoming the main arteries for reliable and safe supplies to Chinese consumers of oil and gas.”

  • State-owned Sputnik News featured an interview with Amrita Dhillon, founding editor of the New Delhi-based magazine The Kootneeti, regarding the dynamics between China, India, Pakistan, and Russia as they relate to the SCO. Sputnik also spotlighted interviews with former US Foreign Service Officer Jim Jatras and security analyst and former nuclear reactor operator for the US Navy Mark Sleboda regarding the US “jumping” to the conclusion that Iran orchestrated the attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

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