China urges SCO nations to ‘play role of stabilizing anchor’ amid ‘chaos, change’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Thursday urged member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to play the role of “stabilizing anchor” at a time when the world was witnessing “chaos and change.”

Defense Minister Dong Jun made the statement while addressing a summit of SCO defense ministers in eastern Qingdao city in Shandong province, state media reported.

China is hosting the defense chiefs of the SCO member nations for a two-day summit since Wednesday.

Established in 2001, the SCO is an inter-governmental organization comprising 10 member states, including China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

All 10 member states’ defense ministers are in Qingdao for the summit.

“At a time when international situations are intertwined with chaos and change, it is particularly important for the SCO to play the role of a stabilizing anchor,” Dong told his SCO counterparts.

“China is willing to work together with all member states to uphold the original aspirations of the SCO and promote the ‘Shanghai Spirit,’ firmly defend international fairness and justice,” said Dong.

He added that Beijing was willing to “jointly address security challenges, and promote the steady and long-term development of defense and security cooperation in moves to provide stronger support for building the shared home featuring solidarity, mutual trust, peace, prosperity, development, good neighborliness, and friendship, as well as fairness and justice.”

A day earlier, Dong hosted his Iranian counterpart Aziz Nasirzadeh for bilateral talks.

Nasirzadeh expressed gratitude for China's “understanding and support for Iran's legitimate position,” after recent attacks on the country by the US and Israel which have ceased.

Beijing had extended support to Iran's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security.

According to the Beijing-based daily Global Times, he said: “All participating parties unanimously believe that we should continue to strengthen strategic communication, promote practical cooperation, and work together to maintain regional peace and stability.”

“The meeting was a complete success.”

- Indian defense chief refuses to sign joint communique

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign a communique by the bloc “for not explicitly” addressing India's concerns over “cross-border terrorism,” Press Trust of India reported.

In his address to the summit, Singh said: “The biggest challenges faced by the region are related to peace, security, and trust deficit, with increasing radicalization, extremism, and terrorism being the root cause of these problems.”

On India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan last month, Singh said New Delhi had exercised “its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt, as well as deter further cross border attacks.”

Islamabad had retaliated to Indian attacks under Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, or "Iron Wall,” in hostilities triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam attack by unidentified gunmen in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.