The Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ended on Friday without a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, although they stood next to the leaders of the group posed for Photographs. Delhi signed the Samarkand declaration of the SCO summit which omitted the reference to the “United Nations Charter” while emphasizing the “mutual respect for sovereignty” and “the territorial integrity of the States”.
Unlike the SCO Declaration of last year to Dushanbe who called to join the “goals and objectives of the United Nations Charter”, there was not such a mention this time. This is a departure from India’s position in the past seven months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Over the past seven months, India has always invoked the United Nations Charter, while advocating “respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states” in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
In its first statement on February 25, one day after the start of the invasion, India said: “Contemporary World Order was built on the Charter of the United Nations, international law and respect for sovereignty and of the territorial integrity of the States. ” And, in its last declaration of September 7, India said: “We continue to underline to all the Member States that the World Order is anchored on international law, the Charter of the United Nations and respect for integrity territorial and sovereignty of the States. “
Samarkand’s declaration advocated “commitment to a peaceful settlement of differences and disputes between countries by dialogue and consultation” – a diplomatic language similar to that used by India. His omission of the accent placed on 2021 on the “rejection of unilateral military superiority in the adjacent areas” stood out given the Russian military actions in Ukraine.
“Member States advocate respect for the right of peoples to choose independently and democratically their political and socio-economic development and emphasize that the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of states, ‘Equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in domestic affairs, and non-use or the threat of strength are the basis of sustainable development of international relations. They reaffirm their commitment to the peaceful settlement of differences and disputes between countries by dialogue and consultation, “said Samarkand’s declaration.
The SCO declaration to Dushanbe (2021 Virtual Summit) said: “Member States firmly adhere to the goals and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and the SCO Charter, the principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and Territorial integrity, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful settlement of possible disputes through dialogue and mutual consultation, non-interference in domestic affairs, the non-use of military force or threat of force, The rejection of unilateral military superiority in adjacent areas.
These omissions are also blatant following the aggressive posture of China on Taiwan and in the South China Sea. In the ambitious initiative of China One Belt One Road, India remained in distance – just like last year.