Shifting Geopolitical Order

The 25th meeting of the SCO in Tianjin became a stage for Chinese President Xi Jinping to articulate his vision of a multipolar world and his critique of the global order dominated by the United States.

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Without naming Washington directly, Xi's call to reject "Cold War mentality, block confrontation, and bullying" was an unmistakable message aimed at American tariffs, unilateralism, and coercive diplomacy. For India and other SCO members, this speech underscores both the opportunities and the dilemmas of navigating a world caught between competing powers. Xi's emphasis on promoting a "correct view of World War II history" was not simply a historical remark but a deliberate attempt to frame today's contestations as continuations of unfinished struggles for justice, sovereignty, and fair global governance. By invoking the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation as pillars of the international order, China is positioning itself as a defender of multilateralism—even as its own trade practices and security postures raise questions. Yet Xi's framing resonates with many developing countries, who see in the US's tariff wars and sanctions regime the heavy hand of selective rules and double standards. The suggestion that the SCO must advocate for "inclusive economic globalization" plays to this sentiment, promising a voice to states that often feel excluded from decision-making dominated by G7 economies.