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SANDRO
BORDONE
La
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
218
Maggio-Agosto
2008
Anno
LXXIII n. 2
Summary
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China
,
Russia
and the Central Asian states of Kazakistan, Kirghizistan, Tagikistan and
Uzbekistan
formed the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) in 2001.
China
's backing for an SCO charter, permanent secretariat and anti-terrorism centre
for the past three years reflects its desire to strenghten the SCO in countering
United States
influence in
Central Asia
. Diplomatically,
China
fears that the American presence means that regional states will be less
accomodating in
China
's political demands. Economically,
China
worries that the
United States
' support for American petroleum companies will compromise Chinese efforts to
wrest concessions from Central Asian governements. Security-wise, with bases
close to
China
's western borders,
Washington
can assist
Beijing
in flushing out Xinjiang separatists or terrorists operating in Central Asia,
or put military pressure on
China
, should it be perceived as a threat. The American presence and the resurgent
Russian involvement in Central Asia seem to have put
China
's influence in the region on the defensive.
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