Qingdao Diary: Tight security at SCO summit

With heads of more than a dozen countries, including Russia and China, arriving in Qingdao for the SCO summit, the Chinese security apparatus went to extraordinary lengths for security sanitisation of the city.

From left: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Tajikistan President Imomali Rakhmon, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain pose for a photo prior to their talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong Province Sunday, June 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Minus The Metal

With heads of more than a dozen countries, including Russia and China, arriving in Qingdao for the SCO summit, the Chinese security apparatus went to extraordinary lengths for security sanitisation of the city. All hotels in which journalists and delegates were staying were asked to refrain from providing metal knives and cutlery, and diners had to make do with plastic knives. The only place the Chinese authorities did not have a problem allowing metal cutlery was the media centre for the 3,000 journalists who had arrived to cover the summit.

Helping Hand

The Chinese government enlisted nearly 2,000 student volunteers to help guests at the summit and act as translators. Dressed in blue and white uniforms, the volunteers were selected from nearly 20,000 applicants. China has a history of using volunteers to assist the state’s security apparatus. They are usually middle-aged and senior citizens who stand out because of a red band on their arm. In Qingdao, an additional 18,000 red-band volunteers were out on the streets to help the authorities.

Local Flavour

China has identified Qingdao as an industrial base for its robot industry. With the SCO summit being held in the coastal city, the Chinese government deployed robots manufactured in the city to facilitate the functioning of the media centre for journalists. A robot called Liuliu was deployed to provide consultation, guidance and navigation services. Another robot was deployed for security and heat source scanning to avoid fire.

Broad Reach

China has taken massive steps in ensuring that its voice is heard loud and clear around the world. China Radio International, the state-owned international radio broadcaster of the People’s Republic of China, broadcasts in 65 languages. Of the 20 staffers who work in its Tamil service, 17 are Chinese, all of them proficient in the language. The same is the case with most of its other language services, where local people proficient in those languages outnumber foreign staffers.

Zeeshan Shaikh

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

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