SCO jabs at US over missile shield plans

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Friday voiced strong opinions on major hot spot issues including the crises in Syria and Ukraine following a summit in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, striking a contrasting tone with the West.

In a statement following the leaders' meeting, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan said any country's attempt to enhance its missile shield in an unbalanced manner would undermine global security and stability, reported RIA Novosti.

"Unilateral and unlimited measures to enhance missile defense systems by a state or a group of states will damage international security and strategic balance," the declaration was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. "National security of one state should not be achieved to the detriment of the security of others."

Though it didn't mention any country by name, the declaration was widely seen as targeting the US.

The statement also urged direct dialogue between related parties in Syria to solve the crisis through political and diplomatic means.

On the crisis in Ukraine, the SCO backed a cease-fire deal agreed in Minsk and called for talks to continue until the conflict is resolved.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the approaches of SCO states on pressing international issues are identical or close, reported the Interfax.

Moscow is at loggerheads with the West due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The SCO was established in 2001 for securing regional security and stability, with combating the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism topping its agenda.

Deutsche Welle quoted observers as saying that what links all SCO member states and observers is "the rejection of Western-dominated institutions," and "are seeking to provide alternative to these international organizations."

Xia Yishan, a research fellow on Central Asian studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that with its growing influence, the SCO provides a platform for member states and observers to voice their opinions, which sometimes contrast with those of the West.

But Xia noted that the SCO upholds the notion of non-alliance, and shouldn't be interpreted as targeted against the West.

The SCO is widening its scope, with a development fund and development bank being mulled.

In a speech at the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the negotiation and signing of an anti-extremism convention and the establishment of a mechanism combating Internet terrorism.

China also pledged a $5 billion loan to finance joint SCO projects.

The summit also endorsed two documents on the enlargement of the SCO.

Putin, whose country takes over the SCO chairmanship next year, told an expanded meeting attended by leaders from SCO observers and dialogue partners that the process of the organization's expansion will get a real outline in 2015, reported the Interfax.

India, Pakistan, Mongolia and Iran are observer states to the SCO.

Wang Haiyun, an expert at the China International Institute for Strategic Society, said India and Pakistan are most likely to join the SCO first.

"If so, it will help reshape the unbalanced global strategic landscape and push for the formation of a new global order," he said.

According to Xia, an enlarged SCO will have more say in global affairs and play a more prominent role. It will also help boost anti-terrorism cooperation in the region.