Xi Jinping Slams ‘Bullying Behaviour’ as SCO Leaders Gather in Tianjin

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping criticised “bullying behaviour” in global affairs—widely seen as a veiled swipe at the United States. Joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other Eurasian leaders, Xi called for stronger regional cooperation under the “Shanghai spirit” as the bloc positions itself as an alternative to Western alliances.

Tianjin, Sept 2025 : Chinese President Xi Jinping used the stage of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit to sharply criticise what he termed “bullying behaviour” in the global order, in remarks interpreted as a veiled reference to the United States. The high-profile gathering, held in the northern port city of Tianjin, brought together Eurasian leaders to showcase Beijing’s growing influence in regional diplomacy.

The SCO—comprising China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus—presents itself as a platform for non-Western collaboration. Founded in 2001, it has steadily expanded to include observer nations and dialogue partners, and is increasingly promoted by Beijing and Moscow as a counterweight to Western-led organisations like NATO.

Addressing the summit, Xi said the international situation was becoming “chaotic and intertwined,” warning that security and development challenges facing member states were mounting. “Looking to the future, with the world undergoing turbulence and transformation, we must continue to follow the Shanghai spirit and better perform the functions of the organisation,” he urged.

The summit saw leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk a red carpet and pose for an official group photograph. Live footage showed Xi, Putin, and Modi conversing, flanked by their translators, underscoring the symbolic weight of the gathering.

Putin arrived in Tianjin on Sunday accompanied by senior political and business figures, while Xi engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts. He met Lukashenko, a close ally of Moscow, as well as Modi, who is making his first trip to China since 2018.

During their meeting, Modi told Xi that India remains committed to advancing ties “on the basis of mutual trust, dignity, and sensitivity.” The two nations, which fought a deadly border clash in 2020, have been locked in a tense rivalry but began easing tensions after Modi and Xi met last October in Russia. Their renewed engagement gained momentum as both countries faced economic pressure from U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump.

This year’s summit, the largest in SCO history, includes participation from over 20 leaders, among them Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Putin is expected to hold side meetings with Erdogan on the Ukraine conflict and with Pezeshkian on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The timing of the summit is notable: it comes just days before Beijing hosts a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Many of the SCO dignitaries, including possibly North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, are expected to attend the parade in the Chinese capital.

With slogans of “mutual benefit” and “equality” displayed across Tianjin’s streets, the SCO is projecting itself as a united bloc amid global turbulence—one that, under Beijing’s leadership, seeks to shape a multipolar world order.

Team Maverick.