In a significant public gathering, the chiefs of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, a group often referred to by Western scholars as the ‘core of disturbance,’ have convened at a large-scale military rally in Beijing. The Chinese demonstration of laser technology, nuclear ballistic missiles, and enormous underwater drones served as the grand finale of a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which mainly involved non-Western world leaders. Amid the churn ignited by Donald Trump’s trade war, Chairman Xi Jinping urged his counterparts to leverage the chaos and collectively challenge the framework centered around the USA.
The visual of the rulers of China, Russia, and India – the three mightiest nations outside the Western alliance – engaging in friendly laughter at this convocation was likely a staged message for U.S. observers. It illustrated how the geopolitical shakeup stirred by Trump’s decisions has presented China and Russia with a newfound stage to indoctrinate countries into their narrative. This scene was conceived to symbolize the strong alliance between Xi and Vladimir Putin as founders of a contrasting global alignment.
Simultaneously, Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, sent a message to the United States, suggesting that India has significant alliances beyond their shores. Recently, Trump’s tariffs heightened by 50% on Indian merchandise – retaliation against the nation’s continued patronage of Russian oil – has become applicable. As a consequence of Trump’s tariff protocol further severing the diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Washington, India seems to be edging closer to China while reinforcing its relationship with Russia.
Modi’s recent trip to China, marking his first over the past seven years, illuminated his willingness to mend fences with Xi, dismissing an unsettled border conflict. In his interactions with Putin, Modi acknowledged India’s profound liaison with Moscow and praised their collaborative spirit, thereby rebutting Trump’s insistence on eliminating India’s dependence on Russian energy.
The event has been meticulously arranged to spotlight Xi’s conception of a renewed world order. By supplementing the meeting with a procession of China’s highest-grade weaponry and legions of synchronised marching soldiers, Xi has disclosed his intention, signaling that China is a rising entity keen on redefining global norms, and is not afraid to challenge Western hegemony.
Although the conveyed message isn’t revolutionary, Beijing is wagering its reception will be different in the current context due to recent US changes in foreign aid policy. With the US upsetting friendships and inflicting financial discomfort among both allies and rivals, Xi is identifying his own strategic window of opportunity.
However, harnessing the turmoil invoked by Trump’s policies has its boundaries for China. The presence of Putin, amidst his ongoing conflict within Ukraine, and the internationally ostracized Kim Jong Un, can potentially weaken Beijing’s stand as the advocate for stability and global cooperation. Evidently, through the military parade, which officially commemorates a triumph over Japan during World War II, it becomes clear that Xi is manipulating the context to rewrite history.
For him, China is the custodian of the post-war international regime. His assurance in the use of military prowess further solidifies China’s assertion of dominance over Taiwan – a region towards which Beijing has been increasingly hostile. However, China is also wrestling with a series of internal predicaments, including a stagnating economy, rising youth unemployment, and declining property prices.
Even as Xi relishes his well-orchestrated moment of grandeur, a certain level of apprehension and disappointment persists. At the summit, Xi revealed that leaders agreed to China’s proposition for a development bank under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and guaranteed several hundred million in loans and grants for nations within the group.
However, while India may enjoy close ties with Moscow, it will struggle to replace the economic support of the West with Russia, a country burdened with sanctions. Moreover, China is eyeing with skepticism the increasing sway that Moscow has over North Korea. Consequently, the White House must understand that their policies may impel countries to explore alternative options to satisfy their interests.
However, these measures only serve to mask the existing rifts with the trio of India, China, and Russia. They can’t fully erase the challenges, and the global picture is more complicated than simple optics can portray. Nevertheless, there is an undeniable shift, signaling a more complex and intertwined world order.
The post Power Play at Unprecedented Military Rally in Beijing appeared first on Real News Now.
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