SCO Summit：An Alternative Orbit of Communication and Cooperation Besides Washington

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's latest summit in Tianjin demonstrated China's growing diplomatic influence through a strategically important gathering of over 20 foreign leaders that international media quickly framed as proof of China's rising global clout. But strip away the diplomatic pageantry, and what emerges is a more complicated story about regional pragmatism, economic necessity, and the reality of alternative power structures.

President Xi Jinping and Madam Peng Liyuan with international leaders attending the SCO Summit.

From August 31 to September 1, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted what organizers called the largest SCO gathering since the group was founded in 2001. The guest list read like a who's who of leaders seeking alternatives to Western-dominated institutions: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenko, alongside UN Secretary-General António Guterres and SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev.

Media Spin vs. Reality

International media recognized the significance. Qatar's Al Jazeera, citing Eric Olander from The China-Global South Project, characterized the SCO as China's "parallel international governance architecture"—a space for nations to dialogue outside the "US-led system." The New York Times noted the sharp contrast between dozens of emerging economy leaders meeting in China while "growing discord" plagued US, European, and Asian allied relationships.

But here's what the coverage revealed: attendees found in China a genuine alternative to Washington's increasingly isolated approach. CNN quoted Rabia Akhtar from the  Centre For Security, Strategy and Police Research at Pakistan’s Lahoe University, who observed that "China is not only a participant in shaping regional order but also its chief architect and host." Akhtar pointed out that Beijing is sending out a message that China can actually convert "great-power competition into manageable interdependence”.

The New York Times noted that dozens of emerging-economy leaders met in China, contrasting with growing discord among the US, Europe and their Asian allies.

The Modi attendance tells the real story. India's Prime Minister made his first China visit in seven years, partly because Trump's punitive 50% tariffs on Indian goods—imposed over India's Russian oil purchases—demonstrated the risks of over-dependence on Washington, validating China's partnership model. Al Jazeera reported this as accelerating "Sino-Indian rapprochement," and the evidence suggests smart economic partnership that transcends ideological differences.

Putin's presence no doubt was in the spotlight. The Russian leader arrived fresh from an Alaska meeting with Trump earlier in the month. In a Xinhua interview before he departed for China, Putin praised the bilateral partnership with China as a "stabilizing force" while emphasizing a "united front" against "discriminatory trade sanctions" hindering BRICS members and global development.

Evidence: both leaders recognized China's model offers stability that the current Western-led order cannot provide.

What the Numbers Actually Show

The numbers behind the headlines deserve scrutiny. The SCO now spans 26 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it the world's largest regional grouping by population with the globe's largest energy reserves. Han Lu from China's Institute of International Studies cited concrete examples of Chinese influence: joint counterterrorism exercises since 2015, the China-SCO International Judicial Exchange and Cooperation Training Base established in 2017; The China-Eurasian Economic Cooperation Fund was launched, and a special loan of 300 billion yuan was set up within the framework of the SCO banking consortium.

Analysts observe China’s pivotal role in the SCO’s expansion.

SCO’s coverage glossed over what Cui Heng from Shanghai University of Political Science and Law acknowledged: a unique "non-Western" niche with "virtually no substitute”.

Post-summit, leaders stayed for bilateral talks before heading to Beijing for a September 3 military parade. They include North Korea's Kim Jong-un, Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić, and Slovakia's Robert Fico.

Mao Paishou

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Forget what you thought you knew—global opinion is swinging fast. The Economist’s latest survey lands like a jolt across Western capitals, with its blunt verdict: China’s cultural clout, economic horsepower, and diplomatic finesse are soaring. The United States, meanwhile, finds itself tripping over Trump-era policy stumbles. Suddenly, the world stage isn’t a one-man show. China is catching up—fast.

The Economist calls the spike in support for China “startling”. Global Times isn’t buying it. For years, Western media stuck to the storyline—China’s rise must trigger anxiety. But people aren’t buying fear-mongering anymore. The data tells a different story. Pragmatism wins. China’s steady growth and consistent, peaceful diplomacy are finding friends everywhere. It’s not magic; it’s momentum. The more China delivers—on trade, stability, real benefits—the more the world leans in.

China’s support explodes in global poll, leaving the US playing catch-up.

Breadth, Depth, and Changing Minds

Follow the numbers. In a massive poll by the Economist and GlobeScan—32,000 voices, 32 countries, July to September 2025—China’s support rockets 11 points to 33%. The United States slumps to 46%, shy of a majority anywhere. Nearly 40% call China’s global footprint “positive”—a jump from Trump’s first term. Just ask the next generation.

Gen Z isn’t sitting on the fence—they’re almost split. 41% support the United States, 39% champion China. That’s neck and neck. Flip to the over-65 crowd and the gap yawns wide—America still gets the nod by thirty points. 

Look south—the warmth toward China spikes in developing nations. Young people everywhere are more open, more enthusiastic. Recent research covering 46 countries had sixty percent rating China “positive.” The global South and the global youth are jumping on the China train, and it’s not a coincidence—it’s payoff for years of tangible benefits.

Indonesia’s high-speed bullet—Jakarta–Bandung Rail powers new opportunities.

China Delivers Real Results

The startling swing may be “partly thanks to China’s Belt and Road Initiative”, which has, in the past 10 years, “seen tens of billions of dollars invested” in regions like Africa and the Middle East.

Infrastructure isn’t a talking point—it’s a revolution. Belt and Road, global initiatives, iconic mega-projects like the China-Laos Railway, Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail, Budapest–Belgrade Railway, and the Port of Piraeus don’t just flash headlines. They deliver: 420,000 new jobs, nearly 40 million people escaping poverty. China is laying track and lifting economies—and the world is noticing.

Labubu: China’s soft power icon storms abroad, collecting fans everywhere.

The Youth Go "Cool China"

Young people crave what’s fresh—and China’s got cool factor now. Innovation, culture, and brands like Labubu, TikTok, and Black Myth: Wukong are racking up fans overseas. Foreigners aren’t just watching—they’re coming, eager to engage. This vibrant, two-way flow builds new bridges, solidifying China's reputation as a destination, not just a headline.

TikTok: The youth can’t get enough, and China leads the digital dance.

China’s style of governance, with results for all to see, has smashed the old myth that “to modernize means to Westernize.” Countries are waking up—there’s more than one road to prosperity, and China’s path offers a real alternative for developing nations craving independence.

Global Times pulls no punches: “Unlike the rise of some major powers in history that came with war and expansion, China has always adhered to the principle of peaceful development.” In messy times, China’s steady hand—UN peacekeeping, hot-spot negotiations, and regional dialogue—makes it the stabilizing force the world is looking for.

China rejects hegemonic power tactics and calls for win–win deals with everyone. Rich nations get calls for mutual respect; developing countries get partnership with no strings attached. Dignity and trust aren’t just wordplays—they’re laid down as the new rules. As the Global Times concluded: “This approach has allowed more nations to feel respected and treated as equals, and many, especially those in the Global South, see China as a trustworthy partner”.