By M Santhananaban
Following the recently concluded spectacular summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held on 31 August–1 September in Tianjin, the People’s Republic of China hosted a massive victory parade on 3 September to commemorate the end of World War Two.
Eurasian countries represented in the SCO – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, Egypt, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and Vietnam – were there.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto could not be personally present due to a major upheaval involving a breach of peace and order in his country. But he made it to the Victory Parade on 3 September held at Tienanmen Square, where he was seated alongside leaders of 25 countries, including North Korea and Slovakia.
Indonesia’s presence at this gathering was particularly pivotal and significant because it was this country that had initially hosted the first gathering of people of colour in Bandung in April 1955. That Bandung Meeting attracted 29 countries, including some African nations such as Ghana, Liberia, Sudan and Ethiopia.
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So Prabowo, despite the critical situation in his country, made the effort to be in Beijing out of a deep sense of commitment to the continuing role played by his country, with its rich cultural heritage and unique role in Asean.
Indonesia also happens to be the country with the largest Muslim population and the world’s fourth largest in population terms. Peace and stability in Indonesia is crucial to the whole Asean region.
It was notable that one outspoken Asean member that had participated in the Bandung conference was absent from both the SCO and the victory parade in Beijing.
An active organiser of the Bandung conference, Sri Lanka was also absent in China.
The series of high-profile events in northern China during 31 August–3 September were noteworthy for another reason. Unlike Bandung, this was not a strictly an intercontinental event of people of colour. Rather, there was a refinement in that this was a Eurasian conference suggesting that it was more inclusive, innovative and indicative of a more diverse and accommodating grouping that transcended colour differentiation.
The Beijing victory parade, with its dazzling display of nuclear weapons capabilities, payload and transport systems and the scope, significance and stretch of its maritime, military and air outreach, was a clear demonstration of a fully integrated, well-endowed and prepared nation. China showed it was ready to take not just defensive measures but also forward strategy postures.
It is the clearest sign so far that China has risen in a resounding and remarkable way.
The SCO, by logical extension, should be persuaded to play a more positive and proactive role in multilateral organisations, including the UN, alongside the Organisation of African Unity member states and the countries of Central and South America.
The old Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic paradigm must evolve and give way to the inevitability of a multipolar world, where freer trade and investment facilitation propels the whole world to strive and achieve higher standards of health, education and quality of life.
It is also appropriate that the leaders in the capitals of states professing capitalism, Islamism and socialism recognise that the universe is large and liberal enough to allow for a variety of ideologies and interests to coexist without meddling with the current global configuration.
This respect for the current configuration would not stand in the way of self-determination and the desire of certain countries to merge with other countries on the basis of some comparability.
It is important for small and medium-sized economies to maintain close relations with all major powers and actively keep their options open to safeguard their interests.
The decorum and dignity of diplomatic policies of careful circumspection and equidistance would assist small and medium-sized nations more than an overenthusiastic embrace of Beijing, Washington or Moscow.
Ultimately, any country must be sensitive to its own national imperatives and interests rather than the intrigues and interplay of superpower politics. If the vast majority of a country’s population feels alienated, disenfranchised, deprived of basic necessities and decency, their patience will wear thin.
Accountability, good governance, equality of opportunity and transparency will always guarantee peace, security and stability.
Hopefully this latest victory commemoration in Beijing will contribute to universal peace, understanding and equilibrium.
Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysia ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.
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