China calls for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to play role in Ukraine conflict
- Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the Beijing-led group can play a more active role in dealing with the crisis
- But analysts question the practicality of a group seen as dominated by Beijing and Moscow helping to stabilise the situation
Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the SCO’s secretary general Zhang Ming on Tuesday that the organisation should play a more active role in maintaining regional and global security and stability.
“As an international organisation with the widest dimensions and largest population, the SCO should play a more active role amid the implications caused by the Ukraine crisis,” Wang told Zhang, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
“[The SCO] should condemn the revival of the cold war mentality … encourage respect for the United Nations Charter and resolutely oppose illegal unilateral sanctions.”
Beijing is facing growing pressure from the West to use its leverage with Moscow to defuse the situation. China has so far refused to condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine – or even call it an invasion – but has called for dialogue and de-escalation. Both Beijing and Moscow have denied reports that Russia asked China for military aid.
But some international relations analysts expressed scepticism about the ability of the SCO, whose members include Russia and a number of central Asian countries, to play an active role.