The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, held from 31 August to 1 September, drew global attention as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin were photographed together.

The image, captured on 1 September, quickly went viral, symbolizing apparent unity between the three leaders. Yet analysts say the symbolism masks deep rivalries and complex power shifts.

Modi’s Return to China as US Tensions Rise

For Modi, the visit carried particular weight. It was his first trip to China in seven years, following a border freeze since the deadly clashes in June 2020. His appearance in Tianjin came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports on 27 August, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil and military equipment.

Before heading to China, Modi stopped in Tokyo on 30 August, for the annual India-Japan summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The talks underscored India’s intent to deepen defense and technology cooperation with Japan as it sought to cushion the blow of lost U.S. market access.

The SCO summit therefore provided Modi with a timely stage to signal to Washington that India would not be forced into a corner.

Xi and Putin Push Alternative Global Order

At the summit’s opening on 31 August, Xi Jinping urged members to reject “hegemonism and power politics,” remarks widely interpreted as criticism of U.S. policies. He pledged 2 billion RMB (US$280 million) in grants and 10 billion RMB (US$1.4 billion) in loans for SCO members, and floated the idea of a new SCO development bank under a “Global Governance Initiative.”

Photo Courtesy of The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

“Global governance has reached a new crossroads,” Xi told delegates on 1 September, calling for “true multilateralism.”

Putin, welcomed with full honors on 31 August, echoed Xi’s stance, presenting the SCO as a platform to establish a “new system of stability and security in Eurasia.” For Moscow, the summit was a rare opportunity to appear on equal footing with major Asian powers despite ongoing Western sanctions linked to its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Symbolism and Reality in the Viral Photo

The widely circulated photograph of Xi, Modi, and Putin on 1 September, encapsulated what Russian officials earlier this year described as a “troika” revival. But beneath the smiles lie unresolved issues. Former Indian diplomat Gautam Bambawale warned: “The dragon and the elephant are not dancing as yet,” referring to persistent India-China mistrust.

That mistrust was highlighted by India’s decision to skip the SCO military parade scheduled for 3 September in Beijing. Even as Modi held formal talks with Xi, he also shared an unusual 45-minute ride in Putin’s armored limousine on 1 September, describing their discussions as “insightful.” Putin, in turn, called Modi a “dear friend” and emphasized decades of trust between Moscow and New Delhi.

Ukraine, Trade, and Global South Outreach

The SCO’s final communiqué, released on 1 September, drew sharp criticism from Kyiv for failing to mention Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the omission was “telling,” noting that the declaration addressed other conflicts but ignored Europe’s largest war since 1945.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump used his Truth Social account on 1 September, to accuse India of maintaining a “totally one-sided relationship” with the U.S. He claimed India had offered to cut tariffs on U.S. goods to zero but dismissed the move as “too late.”

For Beijing, however, Trump’s escalating tariff war has given the SCO fresh relevance. Analysts noted that China is using the platform to present itself as a more reliable partner to the Global South, at a time when U.S. trade policy unsettles global markets.

Strategic Implications for Asia and Beyond

The significance of the SCO for regional leaders and international investors rests more in the alignments it suggests than in the immediate changes in policy. The bloc, which has expanded steadily since its founding in 2001, now represents nearly half the world’s population and spans crucial energy and trade corridors.

“India is opportunistically sending a signal indirectly to Washington, that it has strategic options, not only in Beijing, but also in Moscow,” noted Jeremy Chan of Eurasia Group on 1 September. Modi’s swift departure from Tianjin after his meetings reportedly emphasized India’s balancing act between U.S. allies and continental powers.

A discussion about “multipolarity” was at the center of the summit. While India views it as a system in which no one nation dominates, China sees it as lessening U.S. supremacy to enable Beijing to become Asia’s leading power.

A Frame That Captures Complexity

Ultimately, the smiles captured on 1 September told only part of the story. Behind the optics lie unresolved border disputes dating back to 2020, a deepening Russia-India oil partnership since 2022, and a U.S.-India trade dispute that erupted in August 2025.

For the wider region, the summit highlighted how quickly the global order is shifting — and why ASEAN states must closely track new power alignments in Beijing, New Delhi, and Moscow.

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