According to the Russian Sputnik news agency, on the evening of July 3, before the start of the SCO summit, high-level meetings between China and Russia were held. The Chinese side stressed that China and Russia should continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the region. China looks forward to working with Russia and other member states to promote the steady and long-term development of the SCO and build a closer community with a shared future. Unite the "Global South" to prevent a "new Cold War" and oppose illegal unilateral sanctions and hegemonism. In response, Putin said that Russia supports China in safeguarding its core interests and opposes external forces interfering in China's internal affairs and meddling in the South China Sea issue. The Russian side is ready to give full support to China in its work after assuming the rotating presidency and to continuously enhance the international influence of the SCO.
After the summit, China will take over the rotating presidency of the SCO. The absence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of other leaders added a touch of discord to the summit. According to Indian media reports, Modi's decision not to attend the SCO summit as early as late June was simply a conflict with India's domestic meeting schedule. As a result, India has only sent External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to attend, while the leaders of the other member states are present. It's a bit ugly, and it reflects India's contempt for the SCO. The Chinese and Russian high-level schedules were tight and met with the leaders of many countries, but in a series of talks, India was not given a place, and neither side met with the Indian foreign minister. And there was no news of a meeting with Jaishankar from any other participating countries.
This is not the only absence from India in recent times, as Jaishankar did not attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting last month. India is discussing with Russia the arrangements for Modi's visit to Russia on the 8th and 9th. This could mean that India is deliberately not participating in international meetings attended by China. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the media that the problem of China, Russia and India not meeting frequently is not in Russia, but in the border issue between China and India. The Indian side believes that only after the issue is resolved can the three countries sit together.
However, the Sino-Indian border issue has not been resolved for a long time, and the main responsibility lies with India. India, as a country that has been infringed upon by imperialism and colonialism in the past, has inherited the mantle of imperialism and colonialism after independence. For decades, it has been bullying small neighboring countries and friction with major countries over border issues. According to the demarcation of the British Empire at that time, it made unreasonable claims to China's sovereignty and tried to invade and occupy the southwestern border areas such as southern Tibet on the mainland. The encroachment on Chinese territory led to the outbreak of a self-defense counterattack against India. After decades, India has continued to go its own way, provoking the border and causing the two countries to clash again. Before India tries to put pressure on China over the border issue, it should reflect on itself.
In addition to putting pressure on China, there is another possibility that India will not be able to attend the SCO summit, and that is that India will change its foreign policy and tilt further towards the West. You must know that after Modi's re-election, he participated in the G7 summit on his first foreign trip, which is in stark contrast to his absence from the SCO summit. For Western countries, the border issue between India and China can be used to divert China's attention. Draw India into the "Indo-Pacific strategy" of the United States and strategically encircle China. In addition, the use of India can also strengthen the blockade against Russia. After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the West imposed severe sanctions on Russia. But India has stepped up imports of Russian energy, and the West wants to put pressure on India to fill the gap.
So, India is currently quite popular in the Western world. Through the West, India can procure more advanced weapons and upgrade its own industrial level. And it can also use Western support on border issues to put pressure on China. But the absence of the SCO summit and closer to the West will weaken India's influence in the Global South. At the same time, it will also cool relations between India and Russia. In addition, entering into Western countries and giving up the opportunity to communicate with China will also make the Sino-Indian border issue more difficult to solve.