INTRODUCTION
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.[2] The origin of SCO is the Shanghai Five Mechanism. Except Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001 the members renamed the organization.
In addition to the six members, the SCO has also four observers; Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan, two dialogue partners; Sri Lanka and Belarus, and three guest attendances; Afghanistan, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).[3] Iran and Pakistan especially want to be members of the SCO; however, current SCO members have signaled that they currently do not intend to admit any new member.[4]
When the organization was established, the six countries had decided to combat the three evil forces of terrorism, extremism, and separatism.[5] The extremist forces are China faces its constant Uighur separatist problem in Xinjiang; Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan all struggle with violent Islamist movements, like Hizb-ut-Tahrir and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); and Russias Chechnya war.[6]
In addition to the purpose of struggling against three evils , the Shanghai Spirit identify itself mutual trust, mutual benefit, negotiation on equivalent secure position, respect of diversified civilizations and the seeking of common development.[7]Furthermore according to the SCOs Charter and the Declaration of Establishment of the SCO, the main purposes of this organization are:
-Strengthening mutual trust and good-neighborliness and friendship among member states;
-Developing their effective cooperation in political affairs, the economy and trade, science and technology, culture, education, energy, transportation, environmental protection and other fields;
-Working together to maintain regional peace, security and stability;
-And, promoting the creation of a new international political and economic order featuring democracy, justice and rationality.[8]
Working together is a vague point to be understood as collaboration against the United States. As we know, the United States wants to be a strategic actor in the area since the United States surfaces in those areas which are counterterrorism, narcotic trade, energy, production, public health, human rights and good management.[9] More importantly, the regions rich oil and gas reserves take Americas attention. The invasion of Afghanistan, and supporting revolutions in the Kyrgyzstan (2005, Tulip Revolution), Ukraine (November 2004 to January 2005, Orange Revolution) and Georgia (November 2003, Rose Revolution) are some of the examples to show American effects in the area. Russia and China, as a matter of course, do not want to share the important area with the USA.
What is more, the fastest growing country in the world which is China needs energy resources from Eurasian area as well. The SCO is a way for strategic Sino-Russian dominance over Central Asia whereas engaging in friendly relations with their Central Asian neighbors according to Russian and Chinese policy makers.[10]The 2001 Russia-China treaty covers five important areas of cooperation supports the above claims about the Sino Russia relationship;
Joint actions to offset a perceived U.S. hegemony;
Demarcation of the two countries’ long-disputed 4,300 km border;
Arms sales and technology transfers;
Energy and raw materials supply; and
The rise of militant Islam in Central Asia.[11]
However, the Oriental NATO allegation, which rises from eastern part of the world, is not shared by the SCO secretary General Zhang Deguang: Oriental NATO is baseless.[12] And also, they say we are not established against any organization or cooperation.
In addition to the purposes the SCO bears by the following basic principles:
Adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations Respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, mutual non-use or threat of use of force;
Equality among all member states; settlement of all questions through consultations;
Non-alignment and no directing against any other country or organization;
Opening to the outside world and willingness to carry out all forms of dialogues, exchanges and cooperation with other countries and relevant international or regional organizations.[13]
[14]
When we look at the structure of the SCO we see the Heads of State Council (HSC) is the highest decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once every year to take decisions and give instructions on all important issues of SCO activity. The Heads of Government Council (HGC) meet once every year to discuss a strategy for multilateral cooperation and priority directions within the Organizations framework, to solve some important and pressing issues of cooperation in economic and other areas as well as to adopt the Organizations annual budget. In addition sessions of the HSC and the HGC there are also instruments of meetings on the level of Speakers of Parliament, Secretaries of Security Councils, Foreign Ministers, Ministers of Defense, Emergency Relief, Economy, Transportation, Culture, Education, Healthcare, Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies, Supreme Courts and Courts of Arbitration, Prosecutors General. The Council of National Coordinators of SCO Member States (CNC) is in charge of coordinating interaction inside the SCO framework. The Organization has two permanent bodies the Secretariat in Beijing and the Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure in Tashkent. SCO Secretary-General and RCTS Executive Committee Director are appointed by the HSC for a period of three years.[15]
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATIONS ECONOMIC AND SECURITY CAPACITY
When we examine the organization, we recognize the vital fact the SCO member states occupy a territory of around 30 million 254 thousand square kilometers, which makes up three fifth of the Eurasian continent, and have a population of 1.5 billion, which makes up a quarter of the planets population.[16]
As I stated previously, the SCO cooperation focuses on the fight against three evils; terrorism, separatism and extremism. Peng Guangqian, a research fellow at the Academy of Military Sciences of the PLA believes that the security cooperation in the SCO is no longer limited to disarmament and border security. The organization is considering how to cope with conventional and non-conventional security threats from broader perspective Guangqian says.[17] Sino-Russia security cooperation takes significant role in the SCO security procedure. Between 1996 and 2001, Russia sold China weapons worth doubled to $2 billion per year.[18]
Even the SCO does not have permanent army, the SCO relies on the experience of its regional Anti-Terrorist Center, head quartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and on the successful experience of military and anti-terrorism exercises, held by the SCO from 2002 to 2008 in different formats.[19] Moreover, the Collective Security Treaty Organization was signed to broaden cooperation on issued such as security, crime and drug trafficking in October 2007.
In addition to the security, economic cooperation is a key area for the SCO and serves as the substance foundation and guarantee for the SCOs fluid development.[20] When the SCO was established in 2001, its inauguration declaration announced that the organization would start the negotiation process on trade and investment making easy and prepare the outline of long-term multilateral trade and economic cooperation.[21]Trade, investment, transportation and energy are the most important cooperation areas between the SCO members.
While the entire Worlds population is increasing gradually, energy is becoming one of the most important demands for all humankind. For instance, China will not be able to supply itself with oil, iron, steel, aluminum, sulfur, and other materials by 2020.[22] China and the other SCO member states aware of the fact, and the SCO secretary General Zhang Deguang says: Energy cooperation is a very important part of the multi-area cooperation among SCO member states. I believe closer cooperation in this sector will help the economic development of our members.[23] This leaves an organic geo-economic combination of groups of energy producers/exporters: Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and consumers/importers: China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.[24]
Russian attitude is very important for China, since, a benign Russian posture makes it easier for China to pursue active energy diplomacy in Central Asia.[25] Hence, China pursues win-win collaboration in the area to prevent any Russian opposition against China.
The SCOs goal is to avoid all economic problems between nations so SCO experts have formulated five major proposals:
1) Establishing an anti-crisis SCO Fund with a common program of action of the six members;
2) Founding a SCO Bank that would unite state and private commercial bank;
3) Switching to settlements in national currencies under individual interstate SCO projects;
4) Involving the SCO Business Council and the SCO Interbank Association on a larger scale in the implementation of projects provided for by the plan
5) Increasing the coordination of efforts among the SCO members on a bilateral basis to work out anti-crisis measures.[26]
All told, the SCO has some weak features, albeit all the economic and military powers. Most importantly the relationship between all members is not strong enough. For example, Chinas trade quantity with the United States is more than Russia. And also, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan look at the United States as another option against China and Russia. The other SCOs weak side is that the SCO does not have permanent army. When we examine the other big organizations such as NATO, we recognize most of them have a permanent army along with economic power.
CONCLUSION
Two huge countries China and Russia pioneer the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with four important neighbor countries Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Struggle against terrorism, religious extremism and separatism are main enemies according to the SCOs foundation purposes. On the other hand, the SCO is not restricting itself with the missions. China and Russian do not want the share the important area Eurasia which is Mackinder called Worlds heartland, with the United States of America or any country else. The purpose is being more significant than the others due to the fact that the World populations swift growing and as a result developed countries increasing needs to the areas energy resource to survive as a powerful country.
However, China emphasizes that the SCO does not rival or an alternative to any other organization. They defend that Shanghai Cooperation Organization would like to improve mutual trust, assistance and interests between neighbor countries.
After the two different perceptions, we question the real purpose of the SCO. Is the SCO the oriental NATO, a new holy alliance and the voice of Eurasia? Or is it a domestic, restricted and quiet organization with some minor, local principles and purposes? In the future, the world will witness which one is the SCOs real mission. In other words, the SCO will be either dominator of Eurasia and then humankind will have an Asian NATO or the SCO will be a limited and not a challenger organization.
References
* The paper was presented at3rd annual International Public Affairs Association spring conference in Indiana University-Bloomington on March 26, 2010.
**School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Candidate for Master of Public Affairs, 2011
References
1) Brief Introduction to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, http://www. sectsco.org/eng
2) Shanghai Cooperation Organziation,http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/int/sco.htm
3) Sean L. Yom, Power Politics in Central Asia, Harvard Asia Quarterly, Volume VI, No.4.Autumn 2002
4) Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 01/07/2004
5) Charles Carlson, Central Asia: Shanghai Organization Makes Military Debut, Radio Free Europe, 08/05/2003
6) Ariel Cohen, the Russia-China Friendship and Cooperation Treaty: A Strategic Shift in Eurasia? The heritage foundation, 07/18/2001
7) Sergei Luzyanin, SCO-2009: Development Problems, Methodology, Economy, Security, Russia in global affairs Vol.7, No.2, April-June 2009
8) Jan Arno Hessbruegge, The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: A holy alliance for central Asia? al nakhlah- the Fletcher school-Tufts University, Article 2, spring 2004
9) Zhang Deguang, World-Image Improvement- SCO serious about its future, Beijing Review,Vol.49, Issue 24,2006
10) SCO summit, Beijing Review, Vol.44, Issue 26, 06/28/2001
11)Yan Wei, Partnership in Security: Next round of SCO war games begins, Beijing review,Vol.50,Issue 32,08/09/2007
12) Xu Tao, Security key for SCO, Beijing Review, Vol.47, Issue 24, 06/17/2004
13) Chin-Hao Huang, China and SCO: Post-Summit Analysis and Implications for the United States, China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly, Vol.4, No.3, 2006
14) China and Russia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Series of Chinese-Russian Relations, Vol.1
15) Yu Bin, China-Russia Relations: Medvedevs Ostpolitik and Sino-Russian Relations, Comparative Connections, A quarterly E-journal on East Asian Bilateral Relations, July 2008
16) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs China, http://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/
[1]MPA Student at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana, the USA
< http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Halford_Mackinder>
[2] The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 01/07/2004
[3]
[4] Hessbruegge, Jan Arno The Shanghai Cooperation Organization : A Holy Alliance For Central Asia?, The Fletcher School Online Journal for issues to Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization, Article 2, Spring 2004,
[5] Yom, Sean L. Power Politics in Central Asia, Harvard Asia Quarterly, Volume VI,No.4, Autumn 2002
[6] Central Asia: Islamist Mobilization and Regional Security, International Crisis Group, Asia Report No. 14, March 1, 2001
[7] Tao, XU Security Key for SCO, Beijing Review,Vol.47, Issue 24, 06/17/2004
[8] China and Russia, The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Series of Chinese Russian Relations, Vol.1
[9] Chin Hao Huang, China and the SCO: Post summit analysis and implications for the United States, China and Eurasia from quarterly, Volume 4,No.3, 2006
[10] Yom, Sean L. Power Politics in Central Asia, Harvard Asia Quarterly, Volume VI,No.4, Autumn 2002
[11] Cohen, Ariel, The Russia-China friendship and cooperation treaty: A strategic Shift in Eurasia?, The Heritage Foundation, 06/18/2001
[12] Deguang, Zhang World Image Improvement-SCO serious about its future, Beijing Review, Vol.49,Issue 24,2006
[13] China and Russia, The SCO, Series of Chinese Russian Relations, Vol.1
[14] Ibid.
[15] Brief introduction to the SCO, sectsco.org/eng/brief.asp, 2008
[16] The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 01/07/2004
[17] Wei, Yan Partnership in Security: Next round of SCO war games begins, Beijing Review, Volume 50, Issue 32 08/09/2007
[18] Cohen, Ariel, The Russia-China friendship and cooperation treaty: A strategic Shift in Eurasia?, The Heritage Foundation, 06/18/2001
[19] Luzyanin, Sergei SCO-2009:Development Problems, Methodology, Economy, Security, Russia In Global Affairs, Vol.7, No.2, April-June 2009
[20] The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 01/07/2004
[21] Tao,XU Security Key for SCO, Beijing Review,Vol.47, Issue 24, 06/17/2004
[22] Cohen, Ariel, The Russia-China friendship and cooperation treaty: A strategic Shift in Eurasia?, The Heritage Foundation, 06/18/2001
[23] Deguang, Zhang World Image Improvement-SCO serious about its future, Beijing Review, Vol.49,Issue 24,2006
[24] Luzyanin, Sergei SCO-2009:Development Problems, Methodology, Economy, Security, Russia In Global Affairs, Vol.7, No.2, April-June 2009
[25] Hessbruegge, Jan Arno The Shanghai Cooperation Organization : A Holy Alliance For Central Asia?, The Fletcher School Online Journal for issues to Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization, Article 2, Spring 2004,
[26] Luzyanin, Sergei SCO-2009:Development Problems, Methodology, Economy, Security, Russia In Global Affairs, Vol.7, No.2, April-June 2009
Remembering The Orly Attack
