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Russia stands by China at SCO meeting, targets US and its allies

ByRahul Singh, New Delhi
Apr 29, 2023 12:12 AM IST

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said a front was being formed to contain China.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday said a front was being formed to contain China, accusing the US and its allies of being against a multipolar world, and eroding global security architecture for their dominance.

Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu during the SCO defence ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)
Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu during the SCO defence ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)

“Fundamental, dynamic, and irreversible changes are taking place as the new multipolar world takes shape. This is actively opposed by the collective West,” Shoigu said in his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting. “In a bid to maintain global dominance, the US and its allies have severely eroded the global security architecture.”

The West’s resistance to multilateralism is evident in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

The minister said the US had paved the way for the disintegration of existing regional security system in Asia-Pacific, while citing military and political alliances such as Quad and Aukus. Quad includes the US, India, Australia and Japan, while Aukus consists of Australia, the UK and US.

China is also opposed to both blocs, which Shoigu said were integrating into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.

­”To contain China, a front is forming. The tensions around the so-called Taiwan problem are purposely escalated, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea are being heated. In our understanding, one of the major achievements in the Asia–Pacific region is bloc-free and equal interaction, and it must be preserved,” Shoigu said in comments that appeared to reflect Russia’s growing proximity to China.

He accused “Washington and its enablers” of pursuing their strategic agenda of provoking other countries into military confrontation with countries like Russia and China.­ Shoigu said the conflict in Ukraine was a clear demonstration of “this criminal policy,” and its real objective was to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, threaten China, and maintain global dominance.

“In doing so, the West has demonstrated its advance preparation for a confrontation with the Russian Federation. Large-scale sanctions were immediately imposed on Russia, arms were supplied to Ukraine, intelligence was transmitted, and military advisers and mercenaries were sent to the combat zone.”­

He said Russia has repeatedly stressed that arms deliveries to Kiev only prolong the conflict, cause more casualties and destruction of infrastructure, and finally boomerang and affect the stability of Europe and the world.”

He said during the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s partners experienced pressure to isolate Moscow, and the West launched a global campaign to compromise the Russian leadership and policies.

Shoigu said it was important to strengthen the role of the SCO as one of the pillars of the new multipolar international system, a model of interstate relations based on equality and mutual respect, and observance of international law.

“It is necessary to maintain close coordination within the SCO and to hold regular consultations on common security issues, both in multilateral and bilateral ways,” he added.

Shoigu also held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of the SCO event.

“The two ministers discussed wide-ranging issues of bilateral defence cooperation, including military-to-military ties as well as industrial partnership. They also discussed the Russian defence industry’s participation in the ‘Make in India’ initiative and ways to provide further impetus to it,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

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