Post by Paddy on Aug 17, 2009 18:10:31 GMT -5
The Shanghai Co-operation Organization is a little heard of multilateral organisation comprising of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uxbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It's focus is on security, and it should be noted that India, Pakistan, Mongolia and Iran are all observer states, with ASEAN as a guest attendee at annual summits, and Sri Lanka as a dialogue partner.
You have to wonder why you've never heard of this organisation. This list of countries (and ASEAN - Association of South East Asian Nations) is a who's who of states with a vested interest in opposing the influence of Arab nations, NATO and the West. It will surely become an organisation to rival the UN. The member governments of central Asia have little choice but to toe the line as laid down by Russia and China; you could say they are disadvantageously placed, but sandwiched between two big brothers, they should, and are, benefiting from their association (though you may argue what manifests 'benefit').
If you're talking international politics, then Muslim states are not going to wish to disrupt this block. Terrorism is a slightly different matter as nothing legislates for the actions of small groups with fundamental violent ideologies. However, one of the purposes of the SCO is to ensure social stability of the region. There is a clear commitment to authoritarian rule and terrorism will have no state patronage.
The Uigurs are fighting a battle they simply will not win. They will not 'democratise' China, nor the rest of the region. They will not achieve independence. Xinjiang is China's central Asian buffer. The other Stans with their historical Soviet pasts are Russia's buffer from China. While China and Russia are on the same page, then the status quo will remain. Sri Lanka has already climbed into bed with Beijing (there is now a Chinese naval base monitoring this key shipping route between Asia and the West/Middle East), and India and Pakistan are both keen on joining in the gangbang. Only their mutual abhorrence prevents China/SCO from tying up the whole region.
The Uigurs are isolated.
On another note, someone mentioned that Kazakhstan doesn't allow tourist visa extension. Nor does the States. Nor does the UK. Nor do the Schengen states. The notion of tourist visa extensions defeats the purpose of having a visa regime in the first place.
You have to wonder why you've never heard of this organisation. This list of countries (and ASEAN - Association of South East Asian Nations) is a who's who of states with a vested interest in opposing the influence of Arab nations, NATO and the West. It will surely become an organisation to rival the UN. The member governments of central Asia have little choice but to toe the line as laid down by Russia and China; you could say they are disadvantageously placed, but sandwiched between two big brothers, they should, and are, benefiting from their association (though you may argue what manifests 'benefit').
If you're talking international politics, then Muslim states are not going to wish to disrupt this block. Terrorism is a slightly different matter as nothing legislates for the actions of small groups with fundamental violent ideologies. However, one of the purposes of the SCO is to ensure social stability of the region. There is a clear commitment to authoritarian rule and terrorism will have no state patronage.
The Uigurs are fighting a battle they simply will not win. They will not 'democratise' China, nor the rest of the region. They will not achieve independence. Xinjiang is China's central Asian buffer. The other Stans with their historical Soviet pasts are Russia's buffer from China. While China and Russia are on the same page, then the status quo will remain. Sri Lanka has already climbed into bed with Beijing (there is now a Chinese naval base monitoring this key shipping route between Asia and the West/Middle East), and India and Pakistan are both keen on joining in the gangbang. Only their mutual abhorrence prevents China/SCO from tying up the whole region.
The Uigurs are isolated.
On another note, someone mentioned that Kazakhstan doesn't allow tourist visa extension. Nor does the States. Nor does the UK. Nor do the Schengen states. The notion of tourist visa extensions defeats the purpose of having a visa regime in the first place.