TIANJIN, 1 September 2025 – The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit this week in Tianjin became a stage for global diplomacy—and a moment that captured WWI-like optics. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared an animated greeting and walked hand in hand toward Chinese President Xi Jinping, their warm smiles radiating on the red carpet. But who were they really smiling at—and what message were they sending?
A Calculated Display of Trilateral Camaraderie
The scene held rare drama: Modi embraced Putin before approaching Xi, all three leaders beaming with camaraderie. Analysts say the moment underscores more than personal warmth; it projected a united front among three influential voices in an increasingly multipolar Asia. The summit also echoed Xi’s emphasis on global multilateralism and collective resistance to Western dominance.
China Reimagining Global Governance Through SCO
At the summit, Xi called for an “orderly multipolar world,” aligning himself with societies in the Global South over geopolitical rivalry. He unveiled proposals for an SCO-backed development bank and expanded regional infrastructure initiatives, reinforcing the notion that this is about more than optics—it’s a bid to reshape international norms.
Meanwhile, Putin and Modi reaffirmed their “special” relationship, working around U.S. tariffs and promoting defense and energy partnerships—firmly reinforcing the image of strategic alignment rather than coincidence.
For Southeast Asia, the summit—and its warm gestures—is more than a photo-op: it’s a signal that regional power centers are converging. The deliberate optics could herald more robust counter-institutions to Western-led frameworks, potentially offering ASEAN members new opportunities for connectivity and trade.
But it also poses questions for middle powers. Should countries in Southeast Asia lean into the SCO economy, or retain non-aligned flexibility? This unfolds as Malaysia and others weigh proposals for infrastructure financing, digital cooperation, and diplomatic multilateralism—options shaped by these visible moments in Tianjin.
