Russia, China, Iran – unification of autocracies

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO meeting in Samarkand shows one thing in particular: its members say they see themselves as partners, but pursue their own interests first.

There should be no doubt: China and Russia are friendly states and will remain so. An” old friend ” praised President Xi Jinping during the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO Russian President Putin. He replied that he hopes for a new impulse in the Chinese-Russian partnership. But on how the friendship between the two great powers will be implemented, not many concrete data emerged from the meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Putin praised the” strategic, comprehensive partnership “with China, spoke of a new” multipolar world”, and condemned “attempts at a monopolistic world”. The US is responsible for this, according to the Russian President. Putin condemned the US ” provocations “on Taiwan’s path and stressed, that Russia supports the “one China” principle.

But Putin could not hope for an acceptable assertion for him about the Ukrainian war. China is ready to work with Russia to demonstrate the responsibility of the great powers for stability and positive energy in the world of chaos, said Jinping. He did not mention the Russian attack on Ukraine. Even in an official position this was not mentioned.

“Prorussian neutrality”

The statements of the Chinese President are an expression of the Chinese line so far in foreign policy, says the head of the Beijing office of the foundation, Konrad Adenauar in a conversation with DW, Johan Fuhrmann. Indeed, the two countries in the framework of the Olympic Games in a statement spoke out against the rule of the West, but what follows after it: “the question that arises is of course, does such a statement lead to an alliance or partnership?” According to Fuhrmann,” that China does not aim for an alliance appears in that Beijing does not try to avoid Western sanctions. At the same time, China took the place of Germany as the largest importer of Russian gas. This is problematic from the western point of view. “For the politics we noticed in Samarkand, the notion of ‘Prorussian neutrality’ has now been introduced,” Fuhrmann says.

Partners in a difficult region

Beijing has an interest in expanding its network of relations to Central Asian states, says Johan Fuhrmann. “At the same time, it must be said that this is a very conflictual region, whose countries are not unison united behind China and Russia. There is a great deal of hesitation. “Only Iran wants a close relationship with Russia. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in Samarkand that his country would neutralize much of the sanctions with Russia through cooperation. “Collaborations can be expanded in the political, commercial, economic and space technology spheres.” As a step towards this, Tehran looks at SCO membership.

The other Central Asian countries of the SCO (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) follow a different policy, says political scientist Andrea Schmitz of the foundation for Science and Policy. It is not about whether these countries should be more connected with China or with Russia, because today they have close ties. China is the largest lender of these countries. According to Schmitz it is about the asymmetry of cooperation, which partly goes up to dependence. “This is of course not in the interest of Central Asian countries. “Therefore the intention is not to change addictions with another addiction. Central Asian countries strive to diversify foreign and economic relations to maintain pragmatic and multifaceted relations with many partners. “Their goal is not to surrender under the shelter of a hegemonic actor. “The expert, Johan Fuhrmann, points out that these countries try to be as neutral as possible. “But through the war in Ukraine, pressure is growing to position itself.”