China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun has urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to push back collectively against what he called “hegemonic behaviour”, as defence ministers met for their annual summit in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao.

The two-day meeting brought together top defence officials from all 10 SCO countries — including China, Russia, India, Iran, and several Central Asian republics. Talks were held on Wednesday and Thursday, but no joint statement was released, reportedly due to a lack of consensus among members.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Dong described the SCO as a key force for “true multilateralism” and a stabilising influence in global affairs. He called on fellow members to jointly oppose “unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic behaviour,” while pledging deeper defence cooperation to bolster regional security.

The summit marked the first visit to China by an Indian defence minister in five years, following tensions between the two countries.

Despite the lack of a final communique, participants reiterated their support for greater military coordination within the SCO and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across Eurasia, Xinhua reported.

Founded in 2001, the SCO includes China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and, as of 2024, Belarus. The bloc has expanded its agenda in recent years to include defence, counterterrorism, economic cooperation, and regional development.

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