By Dr. Sawraj Singh
Two different summits just concluded, one in Qingdao where members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met, and the other in Quebec where the G7 countries met. These were in complete contrast to each other. The Qingdao summit became an example of friendship, cooperation, cordiality and harmony, whereas the Quebec summit showed conflicts, hostility, strife and discord. Why is there such a contrast? This is because the East and the West are moving in different or opposite directions. The East is rising whereas the West is declining. These trends are becoming clearer every day.
In Quebec, it did not look like a meeting of G7 countries but more like G1 against G6 summit. The Government of France dubbed the summit as G6+1. It was all other countries (Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) against the US. All other countries were united against issues like the US walking out of the Paris climate Agreement and the nuclear deal with Iran. All countries were also opposed to America’s unilateralist, isolationist and trade protectionist policies such as America first policy as well as withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
America wanted to reinstate Russia so that the organization can be restored to G8. However, America has forced the European countries to impose sanctions on Russia in the past even though the European countries have very important and close relations with Russia, particularly they are dependent upon Russia for their energy needs. Moreover, supply of gas and oil from Russia is much more secure compared to other volatile regions such as the Middle East. The Russian oil and gas is also much cheaper for them compared to oil and gas from America. America wants to sell its own oil and gas to them when it starts to extract those from shale.
Trump reserved his worst outburst for the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, whom he called meek and mild and dishonest and weak. This is a new low in US-Canada relations as well as in world politics. Trump left the meeting early so that he could attend the meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. He left instructions for the American representatives not to endorse the joint communiqué. The American performance was condemned by foreign policy experts, political analysts and diplomats.
There are two major pillars of the West: America and Europe. It is quite clear now that the gap between the two keeps widening every day. America is becoming more of a liability than an asset for Europe. Europe seems convinced that American influence is declining in the world whereas Chinese and Russian influence is rising. Europe seems to be tilting toward China and Russia because they feel that they can get better deals from them. Europe has accepted the reality that the world has become multipolar from unipolar and it is trying to find its proper place in the new world order.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit was held in Qingdao, China. Leaders of eight countries: Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan met there. Leaders of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia also attended the Summit as observers. These countries also want to become members of the organization. In contrast to the Quebec Summit, this Summit showed unity of purpose and harmony. Unlike the Quebec Summit, this Summit showed that the East is getting more united and is gaining more ground over the West. Russia and China, the most powerful countries of the East, are coming closer and closer to each other. Putin was given the highest award of China.
Except for India’s reservation on China’s One Belt One Road Initiative, India also got along very well with China and even with Pakistan. Relations with China continue to improve and the two countries have started to look at each other more like partners and less as rivals. Even with Pakistan, there was some relaxation in tensions. Overall, India seems to be very satisfied with the outcome of the Summit.
We should remember that Qingdao is the birthplace of Confucius. His philosophy emphasizes cordiality, harmony and order in the world. It seems that China deliberately chose Qingdao to send the right message to the world that instead of disarray, discord and anarchy brought to the world by the West, the world needs more tranquility, harmony, order and universality, the essence of eastern philosophy.
Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected].
