The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin in early September was a living testament to this. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood side by side, smiling and shaking hands in a gesture that was more than just diplomatic choreography. They signaled that, under pressure from Washington, Asian powers were willing to experiment with new alliances – even if only temporary. Delhi’s search for alternatives led Modi to Tianjin, his first trip to China in seven years. For Moscow, it is a lifeline, for Beijing a negotiating weapon, and for Delhi a hedge against volatility.