China’s Xi Unites Putin, Modi Amid Trump Tensions

Xi Jinping welcomes Putin and Modi for one of the most important diplomatic gatherings of global powers, while Trump continues to reshape international relationships. Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes China, Russia, India, Iran and six other nations, represent about 40% of the world’s population and control massive energy reserves. This high-profile summit in Tianjin takes place during an extremely tense period in world affairs.

The Chinese President hosts Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi as economic and geopolitical pressures mount globally. Modi visits China for the first time in seven years after the United States raised tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, impacting $60.2 billion worth of goods. In fact, India occupies a unique position – it serves as both a cornerstone of Washington’s Indo-Pacific Quad and belongs to the SCO, an organization that often challenges US interests. Xi seems eager to showcase this summit, the largest since the SCO began in 2001, as a potential model for what the world order might look like without American leadership.

Xi Jinping hosts SCO summit to project multipolar leadership

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“At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, I will travel to Tianjin from here to take part in the SCO summit.” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; participant in the SCO Summit

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin showcases Beijing’s bold vision to reshape global governance. Leaders from autocratic, populist, and democratic nations have gathered at this Eurasian security bloc’s largest meeting yet. Xi’s diplomatic choreography clearly signals China’s global ambitions.

China positions itself as a stabilizing force

Chinese officials present the SCO as a platform of “true multilateralism.” They contrast this with what they see as American-driven unilateralism and protectionism. Defense Minister Dong Jun sees the organization as a vital force that maintains global strategic stability through true multilateralism. The summit wants to unite the SCO’s role as a stabilizing force in our fragmented world. It offers security cooperation and economic integration to counter unilateral measures disrupting global supply chains.

Xi Jinping’s vision of a post-American world order

Xi has consistently urged nations to “reform global governance” at international forums. He wants countries to stop “ganging up to form exclusive groups and packaging their own rules as international norms”. His decision to skip the G20 summit in New Delhi last year highlighted his preference for alternative international platforms. US President Biden and other G7 leaders attended that summit. China has developed an extensive network of international organizations and regional forums. These platforms help project China’s geopolitical vision, with the SCO serving as the life-blood of this strategy. Through these channels, Xi promotes what Chinese officials call the “Shanghai Spirit”—principles that surpass “outdated concepts such as historical conflict, Cold War thinking and zero-sum games”.

Symbolism of Tianjin as summit location

Tianjin’s selection as host city carries deep historical meaning. Colonial powers once divided this port city, and Imperial Japan occupied it during World War II. The city has long represented China’s “century of humiliation”. Today, Xi uses it as a platform to show China’s confidence as a global leader shaping a new international order. Tianjin’s role as a strategic hub connects maritime and land routes in the Belt and Road Initiative. This perfectly captures China’s economic and geopolitical aspirations. China welcomes world leaders to this historically rich location. The message to the West is clear – despite its foreign past, Tianjin now stands as a symbol of China’s growing influence in a multipolar world.

Putin leverages summit to defy Western isolation

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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s presence at the SCO summit shows his defiance against Western attempts to isolate him after Russia invaded Ukraine. The Kremlin describes this high-profile four-day visit to China as “absolutely unprecedented” in scope. Putin aims to prove that he still has powerful allies globally, despite Western sanctions.

Putin praises China-Russia partnership

Putin celebrated Russia’s relationship with China before arriving in Tianjin, calling it “unprecedented”. He told China’s Xinhua News Agency that Moscow and Beijing share “strikingly similar views on fundamental questions.” Both countries want to build “a just, multipolar world order”. The Russian leader pointed to their growing economic ties, with bilateral trade increasing by $100 billion since 2021. Most transactions now happen in rubles and yuan.

Russia’s military presence and optics at the summit

Putin’s appearance among world leaders symbolizes resistance to Western pressure. His visibility at the SCO summit and military parade strengthens the message that Russia has allies in an emerging bloc that challenges U.S.-led international order. The meeting between Putin, Xi, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un creates what Western analysts call an “Axis of Upheaval”. This visual display represents alternative centers of power.

Putin’s extended stay for WWII parade

Putin will head to Beijing after the SCO summit to attend China’s massive military parade marking 80 years since Japan surrendered in World War II. The Kremlin says Putin will be Xi’s “main guest” at this event. He will sit on Xi’s right while Kim Jong Un takes the left. Three autocratic leaders will stand together atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace. This remarkable photo opportunity highlights their united stance against Western dominance.

Modi attends amid US-India trade tensions

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“India’s thousands of years old cultural and people-to-people ties with Eurasia is a living testimony to our shared heritage. As the chair of the SCO, India has made sustained efforts to take our multifaceted cooperation to new heights.” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; host and chair of the 23rd SCO Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the SCO summit marks a crucial diplomatic shift as India guides its path through complex global alliances. Modi landed in Tianjin after completing his Japan visit – his first trip to China since 2018. This signals a possible shift in relations as US ties worsen.

US tariffs on Indian exports spark diplomatic rift

The Trump administration slapped harsh 50% tariffs on Indian exports. This includes a 25% base tariff plus another 25% penalty aimed at India’s Russian oil purchases. These unprecedented measures now hit nearly two-thirds of Indian exports to the US, valued over $40 billion. India quickly condemned these actions as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. In spite of that, Modi stood firm at a Gujarat rally declaring “the interests of farmers, small businesses and dairy are topmost”.

India’s balancing act between Washington and Beijing

India seems to be adjusting its China strategy as US tensions grow. Both nations have started several steps to rebuild ties that suffered after deadly clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020. “Trump’s tariff war has made India realize they have to maintain strategic autonomy,” said former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. India’s growing involvement with China shows how nations put their interests ahead of rigid bloc loyalties.

Modi’s expected bilateral with Xi Jinping

The Modi-Xi meeting carries special weight given today’s global situation. Modi emphasized before his Tianjin visit that “stable, predictable, and amicable bilateral relations between India and China can have a positive impact on regional and global peace and prosperity”. The leaders plan to review economic ties and discuss ways to normalize relations further. This bilateral meeting gives India a chance to propose bold regional projects in energy, trade, and connectivity.

SCO summit showcases optics over substance

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The SCO summit in Tianjin seems more about powerful symbolism than actual results. Analysts see this gathering, happening during global tensions, as a showcase that reveals both the dreams and limits of this growing regional group.

Limited practical outcomes expected

The SCO’s impressive numbers tell only part of the story. While it represents 40% of global population and a quarter of world GDP, experts don’t expect much concrete progress from this summit. Russia and China use this platform to position themselves as the key players across the Eurasian landmass. Officials plan to adopt more than 20 documents, including an SCO Development Strategy through 2035. Yet the organization struggles to turn its promises into reality. The real value lies in bringing these countries together while America stays away.

Internal frictions among SCO members

Some fundamental contradictions make it hard for the SCO to work effectively. Three nuclear-armed members—China, Pakistan, and India—still have unresolved border disputes. The hostile relationship between India and Pakistan makes security cooperation nearly impossible. Russia tried to weaken China’s influence by bringing India into the fold. Moscow also delayed setting up an investment bank that would boost China’s regional power.

Summit’s appeal to Global South and anti-West narrative

The SCO still portrays itself as a counterforce to Western dominance. Xi and Putin have asked their allies to “resist external interference”. They present their organization as a champion of multilateralism against unilateral actions. This message appeals to Global South nations who felt frustrated by Trump’s aggressive approach. Whatever its practical limits, the summit helps articulate a different vision of “a just, multipolar world order”.

The SCO summit in Tianjin marks a defining moment in global geopolitics. President Xi has arranged a gathering that shows China’s growing influence and challenges Western dominance. Putin’s strong presence shows Russia’s refusal to accept isolation. His country now finds strength through partnerships in the East. Modi’s presence indicates India’s practical adjustment as US relations worsen.

All the same, big questions loom about what the SCO can really achieve beyond symbolic gestures. The organization represents a massive economic and demographic bloc but faces major hurdles from conflicts between member states. Nuclear powers with territorial disputes and age-old rivalries keep undermining unity.

The stark contrast between the summit’s grand ambitions and real-world limitations stands out. Xi, Putin, and Modi’s carefully staged appearances together create a powerful story of multipolar resistance to Trump’s unilateral approach. This story risks staying just for show without concrete policy wins.

The Tianjin summit shows a world in flux. Western-led systems face new challenges while different power centers take shape. Time will tell if this SCO meeting signals a real change toward a new global order or just shows existing divisions. These nations must now direct their course through choppy international waters. Their actions, not words, will be the true measure of success.