China’s President Xi Jinping has voiced strong support for Myanmar’s application to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), signaling Beijing’s intent to deepen its regional influence and extend its geopolitical reach through the Eurasian security bloc.
The move marks another step in China’s push to consolidate partnerships across Asia at a time of rising tensions with the West, while also strengthening ties with Myanmar’s military government, which has faced international isolation since the 2021 coup.
Myanmar and the SCO: Why It Matters
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations, has evolved from a regional security grouping into a platform for political and economic cooperation spanning much of Eurasia. Its members now include India, Pakistan, and Iran, alongside founding states such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. 
Myanmar’s entry would mark a significant expansion into Southeast Asia, giving the bloc a foothold in a region heavily contested by U.S. allies and partners. For Beijing, supporting Myanmar’s candidacy aligns with its ambition to build an alternative architecture of global governance, less reliant on Western-led institutions.
Xi’s Strategic Calculus
By endorsing Myanmar’s SCO membership bid, Xi is reinforcing several strategic goals:
- Strengthening China’s Sphere of Influence – Adding Myanmar to the SCO would help cement China’s leadership in regional security affairs.
- Counterbalancing the West – Western governments, particularly the U.S. and EU, have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s junta. SCO membership could offer Naypyidaw a diplomatic shield and alternative avenues for cooperation.
- Securing Economic Corridors – Myanmar is central to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), providing a land bridge to the Indian Ocean via pipelines and port projects. SCO membership could facilitate smoother regional integration of these infrastructure projects.
- Regional Stability Through Alignment – Beijing hopes that Myanmar’s closer integration into Eurasian institutions will tie the country’s stability to China’s regional security framework.
The Myanmar Factor
Myanmar’s military-led government has been ostracized by much of the international community following the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021. The junta faces ongoing civil conflict, sanctions, and widespread condemnation of its human rights record.
Joining the SCO could provide legitimacy and much-needed diplomatic recognition for the regime. It would also open up channels for security cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, and economic engagement with countries less critical of its internal politics.
However, Myanmar’s instability also brings risks. Prolonged internal conflict, ethnic insurgencies, and Western sanctions complicate its integration into a bloc designed to foster regional security.
Reactions and Geopolitical Implications
- Russia, already a strong backer of the Myanmar junta, is expected to support the bid as it aligns with Moscow’s strategy of pivoting toward Asia.
- India, a major SCO member with its own complex relations with Myanmar, may face difficult calculations. On one hand, India shares strategic concerns about China’s growing influence. On the other, it has practical interests in preventing Myanmar from falling entirely into Beijing’s orbit.
- Western governments are likely to view Xi’s backing as another example of China undermining international pressure campaigns against authoritarian regimes.
Looking Ahead
The SCO’s decision on Myanmar’s membership is not immediate, as expansion requires consensus among members. However, China’s strong advocacy suggests that Naypyidaw’s path to eventual accession could be smoothed by Beijing’s diplomatic weight.
If successful, Myanmar’s membership would extend the SCO’s reach into Southeast Asia for the first time, embedding the group deeper into a region where Western influence still holds sway. It would also underscore China’s growing role as a guarantor and sponsor of regimes that stand outside Western approval.
