If Donald Trump believed his tariffs on
India might make Narendra Modi think
twice about doing business with Russia,
then seeing the Indian leader holding
hands with Vladimir Putin. Having a
laugh with him and Xi Jinping might
suggest his plan has backfired. Perhaps
the joke they shared was even at the
expense of the US president. It felt at
times like Trump was the elephant in the
room at this regional security summit.
He was not mentioned by name, but
seemingly alluded to in references to
bullying and a cold war mentality.
Host Chinese President Xi spoke of a
turbulent world.
>> We must promote a correct historical
perspective on World War II and oppose
the Cold War mentality. Block
confrontation and bullying practices.
As China prepares to mark its World War
II victory day this week, she has
repeatedly asserted that it was the
Chinese army, not just the Americans,
who defeated Japan.
President Putin was focused on the war
he is fighting today, using his opening
address to declare the war in Ukraine
was started by an uprising sparked by
the West.
This crisis arose not as a result of
Russia's attack on Ukraine, but as a
result of the coup d'etar in Ukraine,
which was supported and provoked by the
West.
>> The Russian leader said an understanding
had been reached with Donald Trump that
might pave the way to a resolution, but
he also doubled down on his NATO
security concerns and claims on regions
of Ukraine. President Trump had
suggested that after Alaska, Vladimir
Putin's next step would be a meeting
with President Zilinski. But instead of
making progress towards peace in
Ukraine, the Russian leader has come to
China for an extended visit. Embraced by
regional partners who offer him
legitimacy and no demands to end the
war, the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization has been described as the
scariest grouping of nations in the
world. You might not be familiar with
the China backed block, but its members
include four nuclear powers and
anti-western Iran and Bellarus.
Together, the full membership represents
almost half of the world's population
and includes countries which dominate
the world's energy and mineral reserves.
It is India's growing reliance on
Russian oil that has placed Modi in
Trump's crosshairs. He reassured Putin
they would continue to stand
shouldertosh shoulder.
>> Excellency special and privilege.
>> Your excellency, it is a testament to
the depth and breadth of our privileged
and strategic partnership even in the
most trying circumstances. Let us march
side by side.
This was China's showcase of an
alternative to what was called the
obsolete Europe and North American
centric world.
So Debbie, on the face of it, President
Xi's new world order presented a united
front, but there are some complex
dynamics at play, not least between
India and Pakistan, who were at war
earlier this year.
>> Well, Gamal, the SEO has drawn
comparisons to NATO, even labeled
anti-NATO, but there are no formal
treaties or agreements between member
nations. They're not obliged to come to
one another's defense or even trade with
one another. And despite the friendly
optics we saw today between India and
China, their deep rivalries mean that
they are far from forming a genuine
alliance. And you mentioned India and
Pakistan, tensions between them are
still raw between that 4-day conflict in
May of this year. And although China was
able to get them both back around the
table in Tenzin, it was also China that
provided the fighter jets that helped
Pakistan in that recent conflict. And
some of those fighter jets are going to
be on display at that military parade
here on Wednesday. Narendra Modi has
left China ahead of that event. Perhaps
because entering stage right is the
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In the
next few days, we may well see the first
meeting between Kim Putin and Xi
Jinping.