THE world today remains deeply unsettled by the West’s frequent military misadventures, ongoing hegemonic pursuits, and its enduring Cold War mindset—factors that continue to fuel global divisions, destruction and disorder.
In contrast, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) champions mutual respect, trust, collective security, socio-economic progress, regional connectivity and, above all, the advancement of the “Shanghai Spirit.”
The most recently held meeting of the SCO Defence Minister held in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province has once again highlighted the strategic importance of regional peace, stability and security reiterating on a joint mechanism against terrorism. Coincidentally, the Israel-Iran war, the US bombing on Iran nuclear sites, Russia-Ukraine conflict, military build-up in Asia Pacific (South Sea China), re-activation of QUAD and AUKUS and last but not least, constant arms supplies to Taiwan all catalyst to SCO Defence Ministers meeting. Thus rigorous participation of all 10 member states making the event a comprehensive one, highlighting the SCO’s significance.
The Defence Ministers’ Meeting of SCO was chaired and addressed by Chinese Defence Minister Dong. Leaders from the Defence Departments of the SCO member states, as well as senior officials of the SCO Secretariat and Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure attended and chalked out a holistic and comprehensive policy against all regional security irritants. According to the Chinese Defence Ministry Dong rightly labelled unilateralism and protectionism and acts of hegemony, overbearing and bullying as anti-global governance severely undermining international order, becoming the primary source of instability and chaos.
His suggestions to work jointly will further strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the UN and the SCO will definitely unite more progressive forces with shared ideals, uphold international fairness and justice and safeguard global strategic stability. Thus promoting the “Shanghai Spirit,” will further strengthen the SCO, deepening practical cooperation, and taking more vigorous actions to jointly preserve the environment for peaceful development.
It is a good omen that during the meeting, all parties spoke highly of China’s active efforts and significant contributions as the rotating president to advance improvements to the SCO’s operational mechanisms and deepening cooperation across various fields. Hence consolidation and developing of military collaboration in the SCO has become a new normal mitigating all security threats. Obviously, it is the largest SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting since Belarus joined the organization in 2024 highlighting the SCO’s commitment to fostering consensus, narrowing differences and promoting unity.
It bodes well that since its inception, the SCO has constantly upheld the “Shanghai Spirit,” supported bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and safeguarded international and regional peace and stability. There are drastic differences in the SCO scope, utility, composition and last but not least importance because it always features partnership rather than alliance. Unlike military alliances formed to target enemies, the SCO is not directed against any third party. Therefore, it’s peace-loving entity and regional stabilizer. Evidently, the SCO is open, inclusive and transparent unlike the exclusive and confrontational military alliances and multilateral mechanisms established by the US and Western forces/countries. Contrary to this the SCO focuses on non-traditional security cooperation, especially in the field of counter-terrorism, such as the “Peace Mission” joint military exercises series.
The writer is of the opinion that the meeting is expected to vigorously promote the “Shanghai Spirit,” which emphasizes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equal consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development. Xi’s global shared prosperity will further promote solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquillity, prosperity and development, good-neighbourliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice. Hopefully, the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting will firmly defend fairness and justice, collectively address security challenges, and advance defence and security cooperation through concrete plans and tangible actions, injecting stability into a world marked by turbulence and change. Critical analysis reveals that since its establishment, the SCO has reached an important consensus and promoted major cooperation in the field of defence and security, setting an example for regional and international collaboration.
Additionally, China’s rotating presidency has significantly improved its defence and security sector by organizing official meetings at various levels, such as the Defence Ministers’ Meeting, the International Military Cooperation Organs Meeting, and the Expert Working Group Meeting. Additionally, China has initiated innovative activities, including the SCO young and middle-aged officers’ exchange in 2024, and the “SCO+” Young Scholars’ Salon in conjunction with the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. In May of this year, China also hosted the SCO Military Medicine Seminar.
In summary, SCO Defence Ministers meeting 2025 is timely, holistic, comprehensive, productive and participatory although Indian unfriendly attitude of not signing its joint declaration has miserably failed showing another strategic defeat on the diplomatic front. This meeting has clearly demonstrated China’s unwavering resolve to work with the Defence Departments and Armed Forces of SCO member states to vigorously promote the Shanghai Spirit and actively contribute to building a closer SCO community with a shared future.
The SCO Defence Ministers meeting has once again emphasized on the strategic importance of strong “defence”, “deterrence” and secret agencies against all external aggressions. Role of deep state is a global phenomenon starting from Chanakya Kautilya’s “Arthashastra” to Roman Empire’s “Hidden network” to ancient Turkiye “Derin devlet” and last not least modern era “Hybrid intelligence system” and close liaison of their secret agencies always play a decisive role. Thus liberals’ mere fantasies of civil liberties have become irrelevant in the game of survival. The writer suggests that the role, scope and utility of the SCO joint military cooperation and production should be further discussed and developed. The joint SCO-RATS should be further elaborated and implemented. The forming of a joint intelligence sharing network is necessary for eradicating human & drugs trafficking, terrorism, fanaticism and radicalism among the SCO member countries.
—The writer is President, Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge, Executive Director, CSAIS, regional expert: China, CPEC & BRI.
(mehmoodulhassankhan@yahoo.com)
