Commentary
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is expanding by absorbing pariah states, such as Iran, Burma (also known as Myanmar), and Belarus, while increasing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military and economic reach around the globe.
In early May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait became official dialogue partners of the SCO, enhancing the CCP’s influence in those oil-rich nations. At the same time, Burma also became a dialogue partner, while Belarus aims for full membership in the future. The organization already includes China, Russia, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, while Afghanistan and Iran are dialogue partners. Most of these countries are authoritarian states guilty of human rights abuses….
