Editorial | Sense of urgency as SCO powers work to resist bullying from the West
Summit saw President Xi call for the setting up of an SCO development bank to be expedited and more exchanges to counter the US tech chokepoint
To tackle the US chokepoint on technology, Xi urged greater talent exchange and joint development across education, science and technology. In other words, SCO member states should try to pool their resources to develop new global platforms and reduce their vulnerability to Western sanctions and pressure.
Adding to the organisation’s greater sense of purpose is the summit’s timing – just ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war. The post-war world order is under increasing pressure. While the West blames China and Russia, Beijing sees it differently. China was a victor and a main stakeholder in the shaping of the post-war order – it has no reason to subvert the system.
The post-war order is founded on consensus-building, collective security and multilateralism. Yet what the US is advocating, particularly under President Donald Trump, is a Western-dominated world order. The G7 – which includes two nations that were defeated in the war – is being touted as the steering committee of the world, without respect for the security concerns and national interests of non-Western countries. This unilateralism will only push members of the SCO and similar organisations to become more unified and hasten their development.