QINGDAO, CHINA – As conflict continues to unsettle multiple regions across the globe, China brought defence ministers from Iran, Russia, and other key players together on Thursday in the eastern port city of Qingdao. The gathering, held under the banner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), signals Beijing’s deepening push to position itself as a stabilizing force in an increasingly divided world.

The high-level meeting comes just a day after NATO leaders convened in The Hague and pledged increased military spending — a move widely seen as a response to intensifying geopolitical fault lines, including those in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Beijing’s messaging is clear: while Western blocs double down on defense, China is spotlighting multilateralism — albeit with its own alignment.

Founded in 2001, the 10-member SCO has evolved into a strategic platform that China promotes as a non-Western alliance, with ambitions to rival NATO’s influence. The organisation now encompasses a wide geographical footprint, stretching from South Asia to Central Asia, and has grown in political relevance, particularly as global power balances shift.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun emphasized this role at Thursday’s meeting, held in the shadow of Qingdao’s major naval base. “In a world marked by escalating instability, the SCO must serve as a pillar of stability,” he said, according to Chinese state media.

His Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov, echoed the sentiment, warning of “worsening geopolitical tensions” and painting a stark picture of the current international security environment.

The recent flare-up between Israel and Iran — along with U.S. military actions in the region — loomed in the background of the discussions. Though a fragile ceasefire appears to be holding, the situation remains volatile.

Iran’s presence at the meeting raised questions about potential security cooperation, but analysts say Beijing is unlikely to offer Tehran anything more than diplomatic reassurances.

“China will tread carefully,” said James Char, a defence analyst at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. “Its support for Iran will likely remain rhetorical. Beijing wants no part in being drawn deeper into Middle East security dynamics.”

Despite speculation about arms deals, observers say China is wary of provoking Israel or, more crucially, the United States — especially at a time when it is seeking to ease tensions with Washington.

While China insists on a neutral stance in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, its increasingly close economic and diplomatic ties with Moscow haven’t gone unnoticed. Western governments have criticized Beijing for providing indirect lifelines to the Kremlin while publicly calling for peace.

Thursday’s defence summit only reinforces the perception that Beijing and Moscow are tightening coordination in response to Western pressure.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also attended the meeting, using his platform to urge member states to rise to global challenges.

“We must collectively fulfil the aspirations of our people in a rapidly changing world,” Singh said in a statement. “Globalisation, once a unifying force, is now faltering — and we must adapt.”

As traditional alliances harden and new ones form, China’s role on the global security stage is evolving. With the SCO, it is laying groundwork for a world order less reliant on Western-led systems — but not without controversy or limits.

Whether this diplomatic balancing act will pay off remains to be seen. But from Qingdao to the global stage, China is making it known: it wants a seat at every major table, even — or especially — when the stakes are high.


By WafricNews Desk.