The heads of state from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan recently signed a "Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization" in Shanghai. On the surface, the organization is aimed at promoting economic cooperation and regional security. But in reality, it was set up with an eye to countering the global influence exerted by Europe and the US, to stop the US from deploying missile defense systems, and, especially, to exclude Taiwan from those systems.
Why does China take such a great interest in remote Central Asia? The independence movement of Uighurs in Xinjiang Province has long troubled China. In an effort to quell resistance, the Chinese government has put thousands of Muslims in prison.
Then there's the issue of China's modernization. Economic development requires the importation of oil. China faces difficulties in obtaining oil as a result of pro-independence activities by the Uighurs and the powerful global influence exerted by Europe, the US and Russia. Since Europe and the US control the oil rights in the Middle East, China had to invest in the newly discovered oil fields in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Shipping routes are also very important to China, a major importer of oil. Hence, the US and China have sought control over the South China Sea. The collision between a US surveillance plane and a Chinese jet near Hainan Island occurred in part because the two countries have conflicting interests in the area.
By holding the Shanghai meeting, China was attempting to divide the world powers. It believes that this organization can diminish the importance of the sole superpower, the US, turning the international community into a multi-headed political arena. But China is highly dependent on the US economically. It needs large-scale exports to the US to raise incomes and living standards.
Russia, meanwhile, depends heavily on Europe. The volume of trade between Russia and China last year totaled US$8 billion, less than 10 percent of China's trade volume with the US. If China intends to ally with Russia and the four Central Asian nations to counter the US, the results will be limited.
In the grand scheme of things, China has its hands full with a multitude of problems, not the least of which is its rocky relationship with Taiwan. There is, therefore, very little reason to believe the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will ever be the focal point of power politics or the threat to Taiwan's security that Beijing would like it to be.
Hsieh Shu-yuan is a professor of international law at Chang Jung Christian University.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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