SCO: actors, extras and spectators

21
The SCO summit in Bishkek recently ended. No collective "breakthrough" decisions (for example, on financing joint investment projects) were made on it. Analysts agree that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization represents something like the arena of rivalry between China and Russia. The remaining members of the SCO play the role of extras or generally act as spectators.

SCO: actors, extras and spectators


On the eve of the Bishkek meeting, analyst Tamerlan Ibraimov expressed the opinion that the dynamics of this organization are set only by Russia and China. The expert was interviewed by Azamat Tynaev (Radio "Azattyk"). To the question of why Kyrgyzstan participates in the SCO, Ibraimov answered:

“This is due to the fact that the direction and dynamics of the activities of the SCO are set only by two countries - Russia and, to an even greater extent, China, and their priorities are of a different nature. First of all, it is the involvement of neighboring countries in the orbit of its influence. Kyrgyzstan is not a significant player in this game, which, in fact, is good for us. ”


As Pavel Tarasenko writes (Kommersant), in general, the results of the summit are reduced to the adoption of the final declaration. The summit participants reiterated that in the twelve years of its existence, the SCO was able to become “an effective organization whose experience allows us to respond to challenges and threats.” This very thesis, notes journalist, the leaders of the organization (Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) and observers (Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan) set out to prove the final declaration, which supported the idea of ​​holding a conference "Geneva-2" and the Russian initiative to transfer Syrian chemical weapons under international control.

But the decision on the mechanism of financing joint investment projects was not taken. China’s idea of ​​creating the SCO Development Bank in Moscow does not arouse enthusiasm.

It was not announced about joining the organization as a full member of Iran.

And one expert spoke about the symbolic purpose of the SCO. Alexander Karavaev, deputy general director of the Center for the Study of the Post-Soviet Space of Moscow State University, said:

“The SCO and other similar associations play a largely symbolic role. At such venues, world leaders are trying to sidestep all controversial issues and with the help of some non-conflicting topics to pretend that collective equal interaction is possible. ”


That is, we add, it turns out something like a postmodern game. A sort of geopolitical and geo-economic simulacrum.

Moreover, it seems to be true, according to the same expert, “it’s difficult to talk about real equality,” since Russia and China “are trying to drag the blanket over themselves.”

As for Syria, then, as noted by Kabai Karabekov and Olga Kuznetsova (Kommersant), in the Bishkek Declaration adopted after the meeting, the leaders of the member states supported Russia's position on foreign policy issues.

The document states that Member States “support the initiative to transfer chemical weapons under international control with its subsequent destruction and the accession of Syria to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction. "

Regarding Iran, the clause was also approved: "Threats of the use of military force and unilateral sanctions measures by individual states against this country are unacceptable."

Experts say that the meeting held in Bishkek was Moscow’s attempt to “recoup” in the Syrian issue for the G8 and G20 summits.

Andrey Polunin ("Free press") recalls that at the G8 meeting in June, Russia was in the minority, and Vladimir Putin had to make enormous efforts to achieve a compromise communique on Syria. On G20, the voices were divided almost equally: supporters and opponents of the US military operation in Syria remained unconvinced. The current summit, according to the author, looks like a new round of confrontation between the East (Russia + China) and the West (US + NATO).

Vice-President of the Center for Political Technologies, Alexei Makarkin, says:

“The SCO is a platform that exists to block the arrival of Western players in Central Asia. Neither Russia nor China wants the Americans to come to this territory. For example, now Russia, together with Kyrgyzstan, is seeking US withdrawal from this country - and they have succeeded in this. ”


True, Russia and China in Central Asia are not only partners, but also competitors. The Chinese go to domination through the economy, the expert believes. In the future, the economic presence is converted into increased political influence. Therefore, the SCO, the analyst notes, is also a platform for settling Russian-Chinese differences. At the same time, in politics, Russia and China occupy close positions on the situation around Syria. But there are aspects that distinguish the position: Russia has direct interests in Syria, and China does not; he just does not want US domination in the world. Therefore, China would not have alone to block the UN Security Council resolution on Syria, the expert believes.

Professor, Deputy Director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrei Ostrovsky says:

“Within the framework of the SCO, Russia has problems in international economic relations. They relate primarily to China. Our economy does not reach the Chinese, so the volume of foreign trade with China is very modest. The state of the Russian economy has a fundamental impact on the structure of exports of our goods. If mechanical engineering prevailed in our 15 years ago, today its share was reduced to 1%. We are actually trading with China only raw materials - mainly energy. All the recent Russian deals with the PRC - the largest and most significant - go either for oil or for gas. The latest agreement of this kind was recently signed by NOVATEK and China China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation on gas drilling on the Yamal Peninsula. ”


It turns out that the Russian Federation exports energy resources to the PRC, and receives products from Chinese engineering. The picture is similar in other countries of the SCO, the expert notes. They send metals and energy resources to China, and in exchange for them are consumer goods.

As for the SCO bank, “the matter does not move from the dead end”. The problem, the analyst explains, is that Russia does not want China to dominate. What to do? To talk with China on an equal footing, the professor explains, Russia should develop the domestic economy. Otherwise, "no summits will help."

Andrei Ostrovsky spoke on the Syrian issue - from the “Chinese” point of view.

China is not interested in exacerbating the situation around Syria, including because tension in the Middle East raises energy prices.

“Namely, China is the main world exporter of oil and gas; therefore, it suffers more than others from this situation economically. It is not in the interests of China to fan the war in Syria, and its joint position with Russia is quite logical. "


That is, in addition to political interest, we add from ourselves, aimed at eliminating US domination in the world, there is also an economic interest, albeit not a direct one.

Other experts directly point to China as the “first among equals” in the SCO.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, unlike NATO or the CSTO, does not have a leader, and if you ask yourself who is first among equals in the SCO, then it will not be Russia, but China, the website says "BBC".

“The reason lies on the surface: the Chinese have money. They are ready to invest tens of billions of dollars in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, including three billion in Kyrgyzstan’s host summit. ”


Moreover, experts doubt that Moscow will be able to increase its influence in the SCO against the background of the Syrian situation.

Nina Mamedova, director of the Center for Iranian Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told BBC Russian Service:

“The situation is favorable, but transitory. Syria will pass, but the economy will remain. China’s financial expansion is obvious, and Russia is not able to resist it. ”


The transformation of the SCO in the "anti-NATO", some analysts also do not predict, according to the material "BBC". The first reason is the heterogeneity of the composition of participants. The organization in the status of a dialogue partner is Turkey, and this country recently supported the idea of ​​a military operation against Damascus. The second factor is the Chinese position.

Associate Professor of Moscow State Institute of International Relations Vladimir Korsun says:

"Russia wants the SCO to be more involved in political issues, and China is doing everything to concentrate on the economy, that is, on what it is stronger, and successfully carries out its agenda."


Nina Mamedova reminds:

“The SCO was created as an economic organization, and if it paid attention to security problems, it was not in a global way, but in terms of combating regional extremism and drug trafficking. There is no reason to believe that this trend will change. ”


It is interesting to add on our own that in some sense “some anti-NATO” in the SCO are seen by some large Western politicians.

Love Lyulko (Pravda.ru) indicates that it was on the day of the summit that the French President Hollande gathered in Paris the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan and agreed with them to strengthen the Syrian opposition in the fight against Assad.

Thus, at present, the SCO participants have clearly defined their position on the Syrian issue, the exact opposite of the position taken by the western “hawks” and their backstage masters - the military industrialists. Restraining the aggressor - and this is what most diverse political experts agree on - largely depends on Russia, and not on China, which has no direct interests in Syria. Therefore, it should be noted, for Russia, Syria turned out to be a “platform” for strengthening regional authority in the SCO. But chemical weapons are one thing, and ending the civil war in Syria is another. Western and Arab aggressors will not retreat from their plans ...

Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
  • Mikhail Klimentyev / RIA News
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  1. serge-68-68
    +5
    19 September 2013 09: 00
    Being determines consciousness. In this case, all SCOs and other TCs will only be real instruments of Russian influence when the Russian economy dominates the economies of members of these organizations. They missed the SCO - China will dominate there in any way. The last opportunities of the active role of the Russian Federation - student training - are also missed: today China is developing its education superfast and begins to train foreign students.
    1. +2
      19 September 2013 09: 21
      I do not agree, we just need to more actively develop the SCO. And not by accepting new members of the organization but by actions in the politics and economy of the region.
    2. +3
      19 September 2013 10: 51
      Quote: serge-68-68
      Being determines consciousness. In this case, all SCOs and other TCs will only be real instruments of Russian influence when the Russian economy dominates the economies of members of these organizations. They missed the SCO - China will dominate there in any way. The last opportunities of the active role of the Russian Federation - student training - are also missed: today China is developing its education superfast and begins to train foreign students.

      Recently, a large number of our students studied in China on a paid basis, now China provides grants for training several thousand places. What is interesting, according to my observations, non-Slavs studied in China, the Slavs preferred to study in Russia as it will now in the light of state grants from China.
    3. Valery Neonov
      0
      20 September 2013 14: 22
      "China will dominate there in any way."-because, as it is impossible to allow this ...." dominant "is one thing ... but through the AMUR REGION AND the Khabarovsk Territory ... and Medvedev ... then the Chechens ... belay Maybe ... so remember FEFU ....
  2. Cpa
    +4
    19 September 2013 09: 04
    If the SCO played a symbolic role, then no one would send Kyrgyz from Syria for terrorist attacks at this summit.
    1. +3
      19 September 2013 09: 30
      What are you, in Syria, the Kyrgyz began to mass-produce?
      1. Cpa
        +2
        19 September 2013 11: 23
        Information on the site today.ru is sad as it may seem.
        Quote: KG_patriot_last
        What are you, in Syria, the Kyrgyz began to mass-produce?

        Well, the Kazakhs are fighting a whole battalion in Syria, which is surprising (information: marek rozny)
        1. essenger
          0
          20 September 2013 11: 01
          Quote: KPA
          Information on the site today.ru is sad as it may seem.
          Quote: KG_patriot_last
          What are you, in Syria, the Kyrgyz began to mass-produce?

          Well, the Kazakhs are fighting a whole battalion in Syria, which is surprising (information: marek rozny)


          Let them fight what?
          1. Cpa
            0
            20 September 2013 20: 25
            Quote: Essenger
            Let them fight what?

            You have allowed them! laughing Is this a delicate topic for you? Is there really something to write about the essence of the dialogue?
            1. essenger
              +1
              20 September 2013 23: 00
              Quote: KPA
              Quote: Essenger
              Let them fight what?

              You have allowed them! laughing Is this a delicate topic for you? Is there really something to write about the essence of the dialogue?


              No, but do you think they will ask someone for permission?
              A delicate topic for me? Maybe for you? You are worried that the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz are fighting in Syria. For example, it’s violet for me whether Russians or Kazakhs are fighting there. This is their choice.
              1. Cpa
                0
                21 September 2013 01: 11
                Quote: Essenger
                For example, it’s violet for me whether Russians or Kazakhs are fighting there.

                When they return, with their ideas back, will it also be violet to you? However, if you are Sunni, it explains a lot, you risk nothing. The double standards and the question of mutual trust remain inexplicable.
                1. essenger
                  +2
                  22 September 2013 12: 12
                  Cpa
                  Double standards are with you. I am not Sunni. If they come with their ideas. This is the work of the committee. For this they receive the same money.
                  1. Cpa
                    0
                    22 September 2013 15: 48
                    Quote: Essenger
                    Double standards are yours

                    laughing An unfounded reproach, I did not write: "Let them fight."
                    Quote: Essenger
                    This is the work of the committee.

                    Do you really think that all 200 people will be imprisoned at once. By the way, is there an article in Kazakhstan for mercenarism?
                    1. essenger
                      +3
                      22 September 2013 16: 35
                      Cpa

                      And how did you manage to see double standards in the sentence "let them fight"? It's generally tough. And about your double standards, I had not you personally, but all the Russian users of this site.

                      Quote: KPA
                      Kazakhstan has an article for mercenary?

                      Probably not.

                      Quote: KPA
                      Do you really think that all 200 people will be imprisoned at once.

                      Why plant them? The main thing is that inside the KZ do not fight.
                      1. Cpa
                        0
                        22 September 2013 19: 37
                        Quote: Essenger
                        The main thing is that inside the KZ do not fight.

                        Your position is clear to me, thank you. I think they will not fight, they will mentor the youth. They themselves will be under supervision. As the Russian reality shows, the special services do not fight this. The consequences are raking only. I hope your specialists will take into account that we need not tops. chop, and dig up the roots. Of course, you can again write: "what do you want?", only with the Internet there are no borders for ideology, and when they return, the militants will pump ideology into the Volga region, Tatarstan and Bashkiria. Do I need it? The Caucasus is enough for the eyes. stop
        2. fall
          +1
          21 September 2013 06: 45
          there are full and ................ Russian:


          Forward
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          1/2
          Kyrgyzstan will not extradite the Kazakh militant Leskiewicz before a court decision
          Sergey Leskevich (left), Syria (operational survey). Photo © tengrinews.kz
          Kyrgyzstan will not extradite the Kazakh militant Leskiewicz before a court decision
          Sergey Leskevich (operational shooting). Photo © tengrinews.kz
          Kyrgyzstan will not be able to extradite the Kazakhstani fighter Sergei Leskevich until the court renders a decision on criminal cases brought against him, the Tengrinews.kz correspondent reports citing the public relations department of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic.

          Leskevich is one of the defendants in three criminal cases that the investigative department of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic initiated against him - "Terrorism", "Weapon storage", "Mercenary". In this case, extradition is not possible until the case is brought to court and the verdict is pronounced. Leskevich can be extradited upon request to Kazakhstan only to serve his sentence on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the State Committee for National Security noted.

          Recall that in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan a group of terrorists was detained, which included a citizen of Kazakhstan, Sergey Leskevich. The militants planned to carry out a series of terrorist attacks in Bishkek and Osh. During the interrogation, a Kazakhstani said that he and his teammates from Kyrgyzstan were undergoing combat training in a militant field camp in Syria.

          More details: http://tengrinews.kz/crime/kyirgyizstan-ne-vyidast-kazahstanskogo-boevika-leskev
          icha-do-resheniya-suda-241971 /
          Any use of materials is allowed only if there is a hyperlink to Tengrinews.kz

          Here is the link:
          http://tengrinews.kz/crime/kyirgyizstan-ne-vyidast-kazahstanskogo-boevika-leskev
          icha-do-resheniya-suda-241971 /
  3. eplewke
    +2
    19 September 2013 10: 09
    we merge in the end ... sad ... sad request what
    there is something to ponder and something to move ...
    And next year we are starting to save ... Yes, and the recession of the budget on the nose. At the end of the 14th year, it is projected to be negative in the budget. Why do you think the new pension reform, the abolition of co-financing of pensions, the abolition of maternity capital. Too much money was invested in pathos: Sochi - the Olympics, Kazan Universiade, the Far East summit and the Russian island. A lot of money. Plus we’ll still upgrade the army, of course, where does the money come from ??? on oil and gas you will not go far ...
  4. +1
    19 September 2013 10: 38
    Experts say the meeting in Bishkek was Moscow’s attempt to “recoup” on the Syrian issue for the G8 and G20 summits

    All the same, this is not an attempt to "recoup" but at least an attempt to resolve their issues.
    But the decision on the mechanism of financing joint investment projects was not taken. China’s idea of ​​creating the SCO Development Bank in Moscow does not arouse enthusiasm.

    It is a pity that we could not agree. Of course, "everyone pulls the blanket over himself" and this is understandable. But it seems to me that the solution of such issues helps to move away from the dollar dependence one way or another.
  5. +2
    19 September 2013 12: 26
    However, not everything is so smooth and dignified in a noble family...

    Each time, as soon as the Chinese begin to bury themselves (and this is exactly what is happening now in the SCO), they should be lightly, but sensitively click on the scoop. I think that Russia has opportunities for this. And I think that they are not so few. The main thing would be a desire ...
    For if now we miss the opportunity to put China in its place, then in the future it will become more and more difficult. And sooner or later, there will come a moment when it will be impossible to do this, since the Han people having fledged completely cut through. And therefore it is impossible to lose time, because the Chinese are beginning to greet today and now ...
  6. +1
    19 September 2013 16: 21
    -It is interesting to add from ourselves that in some sense, some major Western politicians see the “anti-NATO” in the SCO.
    Schaub He (NATO) Died.
  7. Kubanets
    +2
    19 September 2013 17: 00
    Dear, where did you see full-fledged unions (blocks of organization) in a world where the truth is strong and rich? For starters, at least that.
    1. lilit.193
      0
      19 September 2013 18: 33
      Quote: Kubanets
      Dear, where did you see full-fledged unions (blocks of organization) in a world where the truth is strong and rich?

      Maybe there are no such unions. But the place of the Chinese always be after us.
      1. ElektriK123
        -2
        19 September 2013 19: 30
        After us in terms of mortality ...
  8. +2
    19 September 2013 21: 51
    unions over creating and developing. The problem is that when creating unions it is necessary to take into account the equality of partners in the union. Most of those who are members of such unions really do not represent anything and look at the initiators of creation as donors.
  9. Jacob31
    0
    20 September 2013 00: 46
    What are the unions? Unions have the property of disintegrating; the example of the Warsaw Pact country of the USSR began to bend and they are all in NATO. Now, NATO has divided into Peaceful and Militarists. Just a little bit and NATO will simply disappear. NATO is a gang. Leader America as the main Hooligan and the chaos and his packs of assentive dogs (Europe). It’s easier for everyone to support NATO than to be left alone against everyone. And the SCO is an attempt to imitate Europe, but all this is nonsense. Nobody will listen to SCO except its participants. NATO is a military bloc, and the SCO is an organization of friends (in other words, a friendly tea party). Until Russia gets out of the ass, NOBODY will help it.
  10. Valery Neonov
    0
    20 September 2013 07: 07
    Syria ... Syria ... everyone has forgotten the source of the Far East ... and here everything is small, but .... directly, yeah.

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