Translation: The Shanghai Six at five

The Shanghai Six at five
Jun 8th 2006 | Beijing
From the economy ist print edition

A club, yes, but not a gentlemen's club
Six countries in Shanghai are still in the middle
A club, indeed. But it is not a gentleman's club.

As the maximum th birthday on June 15th of the Shanghai Co-operation organisation draws near, the club's six members-China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, uzbekistan and Tajikistan-have much to celebrate. oil recently began to flow through a long-awaited pipeline to China from Kazakhstan (which also brings oil from Russia to China ). A new round of joint military exercises is scheduled for next year. and, after successfully supporting Uzbekistan's
President Islam Karimov in the wake of the Andijan massacre last year, China and Russia have slowed America's attempts to clamp international sanctions on a nuclearising Iran.

As the fifth birthday of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization approaches, the six members of the club-China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan-have many things worth celebrating. Recently, oil has been shipped from Kazakhstan to China through a pipeline that has been expected for a long time (also bringing Russian oil to China ). Next year, a new round of joint military exercises will also begin. Moreover, after successfully supporting Uzbekistan's President Karimov, who had just experienced the Andijan massacre, China and Russia began to block United States attempts to conduct international sanctions against the nuclear-armed Irans.

Small wonder that full membership of the Shanghai Six is highly valued. pakistan, which like Iran, India and bailia is only an "Observer" at present, is especially keen to join. its president, Pervez Musharraf, is offering China an "energy corridor" to Central Asia and the Middle East in exchange. membership offers hydrocarbon trade, stronger defense links and, for those who want it, a way to counter the influence of the Americans. on the face of it, that makes for a successful club.

It is not surprising that the membership of the six countries in Shanghai is meaningful. Currently, Pakistan, Iran, India, and Mongolia, which serve as "observers", are very eager to join. He provided China's "energy corridor" in Central Asia and the Middle East as exchange conditions. Membership can provide energy trade and enhanced defense connections. If you want to, there is also a way to mitigate the impact of the United States. On the surface, it will be a successful club.

Or so it seems. for beneath the Shanghai spirit is much mutual suspicion. when Russia's Vladimir Putin visited China in March, he disappointed his hosts by promising only that he wowould study the feasibility of a plan to build a branch of Russia's Pacific Coast oil pipeline to China. this sluggishness, lamented China's energy planners, was "regrettable ".

Similarly, in the Spirit of Shanghai, there are many mutual guesses. When Putin visited China in March, he only proposed that he would consider the feasibility of building a branch of the Russian Pacific Coast oil pipeline to China, which did not satisfy the host country. This is a pity for planners ".

There is wariness, too, between the club's Central Asian members. last year, the Shanghai Six called for a deadline for American forces to withdraw from the region. but with the exception of Uzbekistan, most of these countries have shrewdly maintained links with America in order to counter Russian and Chinese power. for all its tough anti-American talk, Kyrgyzstan has let the United States keep its base at Manas. kazakhstan will host NATO's Steppe Eagle exercises in September. and, to the Kremlin's dismay, the Kazakhs are considering a trans-Caspian gas pipeline that will avoid Russia and so break Moscow's chokehold on supplies to Europe.

Exercise this kind of caution among club members in Central Asia. Last year, the six organizations in Shanghai issued a deadline for us to withdraw from the region. But all of these countries except Uzbekistan have been careful to maintain connections with the United States to hold back the power of Russia and China. Despite its stern anti-US comments, Kyrgyzstan kept the United States at its Manas base. Kazakhstan will hold a "Prairie e" exercise by NATO in May. In addition, it is frustrating that Kazakhstan is still considering a natural gas pipeline linking up the sea, which will avoid Russia and break the door of Moscow to get stuck in European supply.

Like any organization composed mainly of autocratic regimes, the club has a brittle feel. political dissenters-those whom the Shanghai Six tend to label as separatists, terrorists and extremists-are none too happy with the Members 'habit of excusing one another's excesses. uzbeks disenchanted with Mr Karimov suspect Russia of having orchestrated the Andijan massacre in order to increase its own influence over their country. russia and China may yet pay a price for excessive intimacy with the repressive regimes of Central Asia.

Like other international organizations mainly composed of authoritarian regime, this club is vulnerable. Those who hold different political opinions are labeled as split forces by the six countries in Shanghai, and terrorists are dissatisfied with the habit of mutual understanding of excessive violence among Member States. The Uzbekistan are no longer confused by what Mr. Karimov said about the Russian director's Andijan massacre, which is intended to enhance doubts about the impact on their country. Russia and China have also paid a price for being too close to the dictatorship in Central Asia.

A great birthday bash is planned in Shanghai on June 15th. But like the city for which it is named, this club is not altogether the glittering success it seems.

A great birthday event is planned to be held in Shanghai in June 15. But like the city name, the club is not as dazzling as it looks.