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On Thursday, China welcomed defense ministers from Iran and Russia to discuss security issues in Qingdao, a coastal city in eastern China. This meeting occurs amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a NATO summit in Europe where members pledged to increase military spending.
China aims to position the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which includes ten member states, as a counterbalance to Western influences and has been advocating for enhanced cooperation in various sectors like politics, security, trade, and science among its members.
The gathering of defense leaders in Qingdao takes place during a tentative ceasefire between Iran and Israel, following twelve days of intense clashes.
The meeting also follows a NATO summit in The Hague, where member nations agreed on plans to boost their defense budgets in deference to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun described the meeting as a vital response to what he characterized as a “chaotic and unstable” world. He stated, “As significant changes unfold this century, we witness a surge in unilateralism and protectionism,” while welcoming defense chiefs from countries including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus, according to China’s state news agency, Xinhua.
“Hegemonic and bullying actions are seriously undermining international order,” he cautioned. Dong urged his fellow ministers to “take decisive actions to protect the environment for peaceful development.”
In discussions on the sidelines of the summit, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov praised the current state of relations between Russia and China, calling it “at an unprecedentedly high level.” He added, “The friendly ties between our nations continue to develop dynamically across all fronts.”
Furthermore, while Beijing has presented itself as a neutral mediator in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, Western nations argue that China’s close relationship with Moscow offers vital economic and diplomatic backing.
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