An 81-year-old British man points to the spot where he parked his Sky Lab tricycle before it was stolen along the ring road in Muang Udon Thani district on September 2, 2025.
UDON THANI — An elderly British man living in Udon Thani province in northeastern Thailand has had his beloved tricycle motorcycle stolen and is appealing to police to help recover his cherished vehicle after CCTV footage captured two thieves in the act.
Wayne, 81, filed a police report with Deputy Inspector Lieutenant Colonel Thiraphan Kaewphon Yo at Muang Udon Thani Police Station on the morning of September 2 through a translator. The stolen vehicle is a blue and bronze tricycle motorcycle, also known as a Sky Lab, with white seats. Despite being second-hand, the motorcycle was in excellent working condition and valued at 27,000 baht.
The British retiree had been using the vehicle for approximately two years, with help from close Thai friends who assisted with repairs and modifications to keep it running like new. He had parked it in front of his home for about a month in the Dong Udom area of Nong Bua subdistrict in Muang Udon Thani district.
CCTV footage from an adjacent curtain shop captured the two thieves during the crime at 6:25 AM on August 30. The suspects, both men aged approximately 25-30 years old with tall, slim builds, arrived on a white automatic motorcycle without license plates.
They parked in front of the tricycle, with the passenger getting off to push the vehicle out before climbing aboard to steer it. The motorcycle driver used his foot to push the rear of the tricycle as they fled along the ring road toward the Santaphon College intersection in Ban Nong Kham, Nong Bua subdistrict. The entire theft took approximately two minutes.
“I’m very sad about losing my vehicle because I loved it so much,” Wayne said. “In my free time, I enjoyed driving around to enjoy the breeze and sightsee at various locations around Udon Thani city. I’m asking police to help track down the thieves and return my beloved tricycle.”
Screenshot from CCTV footage shows the moment two thieves steal the Sky Lab tricycle from in front of the 81-year-old British man’s home in Muang Udon Thani district on September 2, 2025.
Wayne explained that he was previously a restaurant business owner in Liverpool, England, and has been living in Thailand for about 10 years. He now works as a translator for a law firm in Udon Thani city and purchased his home there with help from a Thai female friend. He is not married to a Thai woman.
The British man expressed gratitude to Thai police for taking time to help him and for recognizing the importance of protecting foreigners who fall victim to theft. However, he said that if the suspects are caught, he doesn’t want to meet them face-to-face because he fears he might not be able to resist using his Muay Thai skills on the criminals.
Investigators from Muang Udon Thani Police Station are currently pursuing the thieves to bring them to justice.
BANGKOK — The 290-billion-baht ($8.9 billion) Thai project to develop U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City has stalled. Bangkok Airways has signalled that it may pull out of the contract and demand 4 billion baht ($123 million) back from the government that it has already invested.
Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited, said after the internal meeting of U-Tapao International Aviation Company Limited (UTA) on 1 September that if the government does not provide clarity within a month, the company is ready to terminate the contract citing non-compliance with the terms and will ask the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EEC) to return the 4 billion baht already invested.
Project Downsizing
UTA has been waiting for EEC’s approval to downsize its investment plan. The original first phase was designed for 12 million passengers per year, but the company wants to start with just 3 million passengers per year, as current passenger traffic is only 400,000 per year. The investment would then be gradually expanded to 6 million, 8 million and finally 12 million passengers per year, depending on future demand.
U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Project
According to EEC rules, such a revised plan must be submitted to the Cabinet. However, it has not yet been submitted as numerous factors, notably political uncertainty, have delayed the project and the future timetable remains unclear.
In the meantime, there has been no progress on the high-speed train project, which is supposed to connect the three airports (Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao) and was supposed to be completed by June according to the contract. Around five years have now passed since the contract was signed and construction has not begun.
Politics Won’t Hurt Tourism
Commenting on the political turmoil following the Constitutional Court ruling that disqualified Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Puttipong said Bangkok Airways’ business would not be affected even with a new prime minister and government and the airline was ready to continue supporting Thai tourism.
“Thailand is not like other countries. There are many provinces and destinations for tourists to choose from. Visitors will just go where they feel safe. I don’t think this political episode will affect tourism across the country because there have been no serious incidents that have led to border closures,” he said.
Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited
MRO Project Shared with Thai Airways
As for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre project at U-Tapao airport, which will be jointly funded by Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways International, Puttipong confirmed that the details have already been submitted to the EWG.
Under the plan, Bangkok Airways will use 30 rai of the 200-rai site and invest about 1 billion baht to service narrow-body aircraft such as Airbus A320 and A319. Thai Airways will focus on wide-body aircraft. Each party will build separate hangars to ensure operational flexibility.
The MRO centre is part of the 6,500-hectare U-Tapao and Eastern Aviation City project in Rayong province, a strategic initiative under the EEC to transform U-Tapao International Airport into Bangkok’s “third gateway to the world” while developing a full-fledged aviation city. The project aims to create a regional hub for aviation business, logistics and aerospace industries, as well as tourism and entertainment zones.
The plan has been underway since 2015 under the military government, which had originally scheduled construction to begin in 2025.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a walk at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “old friend” as the two began a series of meetings Tuesday at a time when their countries face both overlapping and differing challenges from the United States.
Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Putin addressed Xi as “dear friend” and said that Moscow’s ties with Beijing are “at an unprecedentedly high level.” Following their formal talks, they planned to have another meeting over tea with some of their top aides.
The talks come the day after both attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the nearby Chinese city of Tianjin, and the day before a grand Chinese military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Soviet Union was neutral for much of the war in Asia, but provided assistance to China in earlier fighting against invading Japanese forces in the 1930s. It also declared war on Japan in the last days of World War II and sent troops over the border into Japanese-occupied northeastern China.
“We were always together then, we remain together now,” Putin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands ahead of their meeting at The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
China says it is neutral in the Ukraine war but has provided an economic lifeline to Russia by continuing trade despite western sanctions. Some of its companies have been accused of abetting the military industry.
The summit of the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization brought Xi and Putin together with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held separate talks with both leaders on the sidelines of the meeting.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on India and the tone coming from the White House have pushed New Delhi closer to China and Russia, though Modi will not attend China’s military parade.
Putin and Xi held a three-way meeting with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa ahead of their talks. His landlocked country of grasslands and mineral mines is sandwiched between the two giants.
Putin said in opening remarks that the three countries are good neighbors, with a shared interest in developing ties. “Our three countries have much in common,” he said.
In 2024, Putin made an official visit to Mongolia, where the government ignored calls to arrest him on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.
BANGKOK — King Power Corporation confirmed it will close three downtown duty-free branches in September as part of an organizational restructuring and search for new business models suited to changing market conditions, with clarity expected within 4-5 months.
Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, CEO of King Power Corporation, revealed that the company will shut down three downtown duty-free locations this September: Srivaree (Samut Prakan), Pattaya, and Mahanakhon (Bangkok).
These closures were already planned due to high operating costs, changing foreign tourist patterns away from traditional tour groups, and the different management requirements of downtown duty-free operations compared to airport locations.
Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, CEO of King Power Corporation
The continuous decline in Chinese tourists and changing travel behaviors directly impact King Power’s duty-free business, as Chinese visitors represent approximately 70% of their customer base, while Thais account for 15-20% and other nationalities make up 5-10%.
Nitinai explained that the closures coincide with organizational restructuring, including voluntary resignation programs. Employees from closing branches who wish to continue with the company can remain, while any employee company-wide can participate in the voluntary departure program.
King Power has previously opened and closed downtown branches to match economic conditions. It currently operates three remaining downtown duty-free locations: Rangnam, One Bangkok, and Phuket.
King Power duty-free locations including Mahanakhon, Rangnam, Srivaree, Pattaya, and Phuket
The CEO stated that long-term business sustainability requires adapting downtown operations to changing business contexts. While duty-free remains King Power’s core strength, the company must evolve and find new “captive market” businesses to create fresh demand magnets. The new business model should become clear within 4-5 months.
Regarding airport duty-free operations at five major airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai), King Power submitted cancellation requests to Airports of Thailand (AOT) in late May 2025. The company awaits AOT’s decision following a 60-day consideration period, with clarity expected in Q4 2025.
“King Power’s request for AOT to consider contract cancellation clearly signals our readiness to reset the business and withdraw from airports as well, since airport duty-free represents our biggest bleeding wound. Meanwhile, we need to address smaller wounds to stem the bleeding,” Nitinai concluded.
Bangkok, 26 August 2025 – UOB Thailand, in collaboration with Central and Robinson department stores, under Central Retail, has launched the “Tourist Exclusive for UOB Cardholders from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam” campaign. This campaign rewards UOB credit cardholders from the four ASEAN countries with exclusive privileges and curated Thai gifts when they make a minimum spend on UOB credit cards, aligning with the government’s push to revitalise tourism and stimulate spending in the second half of 2025.
As part of the campaign, tourists holding UOB credit cards issued in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam will receive a THB1,000 voucher when they spend THB6,000, and a THB500 voucher when they spend THB4,000 on UOB credit cards. Cardholders will also receive complimentary items that represent Thailand, such as an AIS tourist SIM card, a premium Thai-patterned bag from Good Goods, and a mango sticky rice set at Lofter or Living House. These offers are available at all Central and Robinson department store branches from 1 August to 31 December 2025.
Mrs Vira-Anong Chiranakhorn Phutrakul, Deputy CEO and Head of Wholesale Banking at UOB Thailand, said, “With a retail customer base of over 8.4 million in ASEAN, this collaboration will hopefully provide a boost to domestic tourism while rewarding UOB cardholders travelling to Thailand.”
The tuk-tuk involved in the altercation incident parked outside Chiang Mai City Police Station on September 1, 2025.
CHIANG MAI — A tuk-tuk driver who was caught on video shouting and making crude gestures at a Chinese tourist met with police on Monday to explain the incident that has since gone viral on social media.
The video was shared by the Chinese tourist under the title “Thailand is not safe,” describing an unpleasant encounter near a hotel in the city center. According to the tourist’s account, the tuk-tuk driver loudly asked if he wanted a ride, and when he declined, the driver began shouting abusively and physically assaulted him, prompting the tourist to file a police report.
The incident was picked up by Chinese tourism media, which reported that Chiang Mai was unsafe, leading to widespread criticism.
Screenshot from the viral video recorded and shared by a Chinese tourist, showing a tuk-tuk driver in downtown Chiang Mai using crude gestures and abusive language toward him on August 28, 2025.
On September 1, the 27-year-old tuk-tuk driver, identified as “A” (pseudonym), met with Police Colonel Prachya Thisala, superintendent of Chiang Mai City Police Station, to explain what happened on August 28 in downtown Chiang Mai.
The driver said he was driving along Ratchamankha Road when he saw tourists walking and asked “Where are you going? Want a ride?” as he and other drivers routinely do. However, the Chinese tourist shouted back in Chinese with what he recognized as profanity directed at his mother, causing him to lose his temper and respond as shown in the viral video.
“I’ve been driving tuk-tuk for two years and have had tourists curse at me before, but never about my parents. I admit this incident damaged Chiang Mai’s image and I want to apologize to everyone. I won’t let this happen again,” the driver said.
The tuk-tuk driver (black shirt) explains details of his dispute with the Chinese tourist to police on September 1, 2025.
Police Colonel Prachya Thisala said the Chinese tourist who posted the video had filed a daily report at Chiang Mai City Police Station, but when police tried to take his statement, he indicated he was not yet ready to provide testimony.
“This incident has significantly damaged Chiang Mai’s reputation. The provincial transport office has also come to investigate this matter,” said Police Colonel Prachya. He spoke with the tuk-tuk driver and requested cooperation from all passenger vehicle operators to exercise extreme caution and patience, emphasizing that such incidents must not happen again.
Police stated they will coordinate with all passenger vehicle drivers to discuss proper conduct when serving both Thai and foreign passengers, urging them to show patience and avoid confrontations while providing careful service to passengers.
A village damaged by an earthquake that killed many people and destroyed villages in eastern Afghanistan is seen in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed some 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to figures provided Monday by the Taliban government.
The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage.
The quake at 11:47 p.m. was centered 27 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Jalalabad, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. Several aftershocks followed.
Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands.
The Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a press conference Monday that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 injured. He said most of the casualties were in Kunar.
Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.
Injured victims of an earthquake that killed many people and destroyed villages in eastern Afghanistan are evacuated by military helicopter in Mazar Dara, Kunar province, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)
One resident in Nurgal district, one of the worst-affected areas in Kunar, said nearly the entire village was destroyed.
“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” said the villager, who did not give his name.
“We need help here,” he pleaded. “We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”
Homes collapsed and people screamed for help
Eastern Afghanistan is mountainous, with remote areas.
The quake has worsened communications. Blocked roads are forcing aid workers to walk four or five hours to reach survivors. Dozens of flights have operated in and out of Nangarhar Airport, transporting the injured to hospitals.
One survivor described seeing homes collapse before his eyes and people screaming for help.
Sadiqullah, who lives in the Maza Dara area of Nurgal, said he was woken by a deep boom that sounded like a storm approaching. Like many Afghans, he uses only one name.
He ran to where his children were sleeping and rescued three of them. He was about to return to grab the rest of his family when the room fell on top of him.
“I was half-buried and unable to get out,” he told The Associated Press by phone from Nangarhar Hospital. “My wife and two sons are dead, and my father is injured and in hospital with me. We were trapped for three to four hours until people from other areas arrived and pulled me out.”
It felt like the whole mountain was shaking, he said.
Rescue operations were underway and medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the capital Kabul have arrived in the area, said Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesman.
Zaman said many areas had not been able to report casualty figures and that “the numbers were expected to change” as deaths and injuries are reported. The chief spokesman, Mujahid, said helicopters had reached some areas but road travel was difficult.
“There are some villages where the injured and dead haven’t been recovered from the rubble, so that’s why the numbers may increase,” he told journalists.
In this photo released by the Nangarhar Media Center, stretchers and ambulances are prepared to receive victims of an earthquake that killed hundreds and destroyed numerous villages in eastern Afghanistan, at Nangarhar Airport in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Nangarhar Media Center via AP)
The tremors were felt in neighboring Pakistan
Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said the earthquake intensified existing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan and urged international donors to support relief efforts.
“This adds death and destruction to other challenges including drought and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries,” Grandi wrote on the social media platform X. “Hopefully the donor community will not hesitate to support relief efforts.”
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake.
The U.N. gave a lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.
The latest earthquake was likely to “dwarf the scale of the humanitarian needs” caused by the disaster of 2023, according to the International Rescue Committee.
Entire roads and communities have been cut off from accessing nearby towns or hospitals and 2,000 casualties were reported within the first 12 hours, said Sherine Ibrahim, the country director for the aid agency.
“Although we have been able to act fast, we are profoundly fearful for the additional strain this will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan,” said Ibrahim. ” Global funding cuts have dramatically hampered our ability to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.”
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that immediate needs include search and rescue support, emergency healthcare and medical supplies, food, clean water, and restoring road access to reach isolated communities.
Sunday night’s quake was felt in parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by events in Afghanistan. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are ready to extend all possible support in this regard,” he said on X.
Gabriela Braga Guimarães (Gabi), Brazilian national volleyball team player, greets Thai fans during the FIVB Women's World Championships 2025 in Chiang Mai. She became one of the viral sensations helping promote Thai tourism.
BANGKOK — Thailand has struck tourism gold with its hosting of the FIVB Women’s World Championships 2025, as volleyball athletes’ viral social media posts praising Thai hospitality generate invaluable global promotion worth far more than the tournament’s 8.4 billion baht ($260 million) economic impact.
The championship has become an unexpected marketing phenomenon, with international players from nearly every participating country sharing positive experiences about Thailand’s warmth, organization, and attractions across host cities Chiang Mai, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Bangkok.
Thailand hosts the FIVB Women’s World Championships 2025 from August 22 – September 7 in Bangkok.
Tourism and Sports Ministry Permanent Secretary Nattariya Taweeewong said on September 1 that the organic athlete testimonials have created immeasurable promotional value, showcasing Thailand’s sports tourism potential to a global audience in ways traditional advertising cannot achieve.
She said the estimated economic circulation value of 8.435 billion baht ($261 million) comes from employment, tax revenue from both direct and indirect spending, broken down as follows: promotional value of 5.596 billion baht ($173 million) generated from 1.3 billion live viewers and social media replay views of the competition broadcasts.
Thailand hosts the FIVB Women’s World Championships 2025 from August 22 – September 7.
Additionally, there were 99.6 billion media reach impressions across various promotional channels during the tournament, with domestic and international tourist travel targets valued at 768.30 million baht ($23.7 million), creating an economic value of 2.07 billion baht ($64 million).
“The warm and impressive hospitality from Thai people has generated immeasurable viral content worldwide, stemming from athletes’ personal experiences. Thailand has captured global attention through this tournament, representing a highly successful example of sports tourism promotion,” said Nattariya.
BRAND’S Essence of Chicken by Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) officially launches its regional campaign “BRAND’S x Crayon Shinchan” across five Southeast Asian countries:Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. The campaign employs a Character Marketing strategy featuring the iconic Japanese anime “Crayon Shinchan,”
Mr. Omer Malik, CEO for Thailand & Indochina of Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd stated:
“Suntory is committed to deeply understanding individual experiences and needs to create health products as lifestyle solutions. BRAND’S Essence of Chicken supports brain health – the core foundation of daily living and work. To reinforce this philosophy, Suntory has launched the regional ‘BRAND’S x Crayon Shinchan’ campaign across five Southeast Asian countries.”
Ms. Jaturaporn Thanapornsungsuth, Vice President – Head of Marketing (Thailand & Indochina) of Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd., commented: “With his sharp brain and quick-witted character traits in creatively solving various problems and situations, we believe Crayon Shinchan will help consumers understand the benefits of BRAND’S Essence of Chicken. In Thailand, this campaign reinforces BRAND’S core concept ‘Start Your Day, Start with BRAND’S’ – emphasizing beginning each day with BRAND’S Essence of Chicken to ‘activate your brain switch’ and prepare for challenges, while communicating the benefits of ‘BRAND’S Essence of Chicken’ containing Carnosine and Vitamin B12, which support normal nervous system and brain function.
BRAND’S Essence of Chicken has also produced an animated online film featuring exclusive ‘Crayon Shinchan’ episodes created for this campaign, along with a range of sales promotion activities and KOL/Influencer collaborations to increase consumer reach and stimulating purchase decisions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a photo session during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Suo Takekuma/Pool Photo via AP)
TIANJIN, China (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said China would accelerate the creation of an SCO development bank Monday at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin, as he seeks to expand the organization’s influence and scope.
“Currently, as the global situation becomes more complex and turbulent, member states are facing more arduous safety and development responsibilities,” Xi said in opening remarks to the forum. He pledged $1.4 billion in loans in the next three years for SCO members. They are not specifically designated for the new development bank, for which no timeline has been released.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the leaders of a couple of dozen nations meeting as part of the SCO. The group, originally seen as a foil to U.S. influence in Central Asia, has grown in size and influence over the years, but has remained largely a security forum.
With the addition of the bank and an emphasis on providing loans, Xi is attempting to expand the scope of the organization.
Leaders pose for a family photo at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
China on message
“He wants to provide an alternate world order, because the U.S.-led world order is very much in decline. This is the main narrative,” said Alfred Wu, a professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Xi also said states should “oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc-based confrontation and bullying, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core” while “advocating for an equal and orderly multipolar world, an inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system.”
Xi’s remarks were consistent with China’s past comments. Opposition to a Cold War mentality is a reference to the America’s tough approach to China, as well as its withdrawal of funding from some U.N. agencies. But at this moment in time, China’s consistency is the message, Wu said.
Founded in 2001, the SCO now includes Russia, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia are observer states, and 14 other countries, including several from the Middle East, serve as “dialogue partners.”
The summit comes days ahead of a military parade in Beijing to which China has invited its allies and neighbors.
Focus on conflict
On Sunday, Xi met with Modi where they vowed to resolve their differences about a border dispute, which had led to a freeze in relations in 2020. The disputes revolve around three points in their vast border in India’s northern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh regions as well as near Bhutan.
Putin arrived for the summit Sunday and will attend the parade Wednesday for the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Modi will not stay for the parade. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is not attending the SCO summit, will be present for the military parade, along with the leader of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.
Putin spoke to Xi on Sunday, ahead of the bilateral talks the two were scheduled to hold Tuesday. He updated the Chinese leader on the Russia-U.S. talks on the Ukraine war in Alaska last month.
“I would like to note that the understandings reached at the recent high-level Russian-American summit in Alaska are also, I hope, moving in this direction, opening the way to peace in Ukraine,” Putin said.
Development policy has been a large part of the messaging in recent days. Putin said Russia and China were jointly “against discriminatory sanctions” that hurt the socioeconomic development of the world at large in a written interview released by the Chinese official news agency Xinhua on Saturday.
He said Russia, alongside its Chinese partners, supports the reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
“It is essential to end the use of finance as an instrument of neo-colonialism, which runs counter to the interests of the Global Majority,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, from left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, China, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (Indian Prime Minister’s Office via AP)
Security is still key
While China is eager for the SCO to take a larger role on the global stage, it remains to be seen how effective the organization will be. Its focus in the past has been on propping up the security initiatives of its member states. China said the SCO is effective in combating what it refers to as the three forces: terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Those threats are what Beijing cited after it swept more than 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and members of other largely Muslim minorities into camps, prisons, and other detention facilities in 2018.
“Their anti-terrorism exercises are more about countering threats to authoritarian regimes rather than countering terrorism in its own right,” said Derek Grossman, a professor of international relations at the University of Southern California.
“There’s competing organizations,” said Grossman. “If anything, BRICS might have much more luck in competing against the West because there are major economies involved.”
Even if the SCO summit’s reach and influence is ultimately limited, one thing is clear, he said: “China is on a diplomatic uptick and the U.S. is self destructing.”
