The 25th SCO summit in Tianjin became a stage for Chinese President Xi Jinping to project Beijing as a counterweight to Washington and consolidate its superpower ambitions. Against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s tariff actions on India, Xi extended special invitations to Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, while showcasing military might in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square parade.

Xi unveiled a Global Governance Initiative, positioning China as a champion of sovereign equality, multilateralism, and South-South cooperation, while accusing the US of Cold War mentality and protectionism. He urged SCO nations to support Belt and Road cooperation, inclusive globalization, and people-centric development.

Ironically, as leader of a one-party communist state, Xi called for “greater democracy” in international relations, promising healthcare initiatives for SCO countries to present China as a benevolent global power. By promoting China’s role in global governance, Xi signaled his ambition to reshape the world order in Beijing’s favor.

India, however, remains cautious. While sharing China’s preference for a multipolar world, New Delhi insists on a multipolar Asia where it can compete with Beijing. India continues to strengthen its partnership with the US, highlighted in recent exchanges between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming the “natural partnership” between the two countries.

India’s balancing act—participating in BRICS and SCO while deepening ties with the Quad and Washington—reflects its strategy of non-alignment with a focus on countering the Sino-Pakistan alliance, strengthening its role in the Global South, and safeguarding national security against terrorism.