The last day of this month will see a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Tianjin, where more than 20 foreign leaders will gather in China.

However, just as the Chinese side announced the list of participants and the world's attention was focused on this summit, the U.S. took an inappropriate action against China.

On August 22, the Chinese side publicly released the list of participants. According to statistics, 22 foreign leaders will attend the summit in China this time.

Russian President Putin, Indian Prime Minister Modi, Iranian President Pezeshkian, and nine other leaders of SCO member states are clearly listed on the list;

Leaders of observer states such as Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh are also on the list, and leaders from seven dialogue partner countries, including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Turkish President Erdogan, will also attend this grand event.

In addition, leaders from neighboring countries such as Indonesian President Prabowo, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh have also accepted the invitation.

Notably, the heads of 10 international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, including UN Secretary-General Guterres, SCO Secretary-General Ermekov, and ASEAN Secretary-General Dang Dinh Quy, will also attend the summit.

This not only reflects the importance and support of international organizations for the SCO, but also means that the SCO is playing an increasingly important role in the global governance system, gradually becoming a key platform for international cooperation and exchange.

The SCO summit is no longer an "exclusive meeting" within the region, but has become an "open dialogue field" that connects with global governance needs.

From the current international situation, the holding of this summit is timely.

At a time when the Trump administration's unilateral tariff policies have impacted the global economy, the international community needs platforms like the SCO that uphold the spirit of "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, and consultation" to open up new paths for global governance.

It is worth noting that on the same day, foreign media reported that the U.S. imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies for facilitating Iran's oil transport.

Trump chose to sanction Chinese companies right before the Tianjin SCO summit, which seems sudden, but may hide several layers of intentions.

Firstly, Trump may want to "steal the spotlight," diluting the cooperative atmosphere of the SCO summit.

This summit, with more than 20 foreign leaders gathering, is itself a strong endorsement of multilateralism at the current moment, which is exactly the opposite of Trump's unilateralism. Additionally, the growing influence of the SCO directly contradicts America's "small circle" approach.

Secondly, Trump is likely trying to "sound the alarm" for other participating countries. After all, the United States has never wanted more countries to get closer to China, especially in key areas such as trade and energy.

Although this sanction is aimed at Chinese companies, it is largely a warning, implying that countries that cooperate with China may face pressure from the United States.

Furthermore, this move cannot be separated from Trump's own political calculations. Whether to consolidate his conservative base or maintain a "tough stance on China" public image, Trump has always needed such actions.

Currently, the U.S. has many domestic economic and livelihood issues. Shifting attention to "sanctions against China" can both divert domestic conflicts and create a sense of "daring to take a tough stance against China" among supporters, which is a low-cost and quick operation for his subsequent political moves.

However, the Chinese side has clearly stated its opposition to unjust sanctions, and promoting the summit is the priority in the coming period. Trump's move is more of a short-term disturbance, but it is unlikely to succeed in disrupting the major direction of SCO cooperation.

Members of the SCO and participants' demand for "multilateral cooperation" is a rational choice based on their own interests, and it is not easily shaken by external pressures.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541466695408402979/

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