From August 31 to September 1, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its summit in Tianjin, the largest in the group’s history. In this climate, the idea of a China-India-Russia “axis” has gained currency, reflecting a mix of unease and suspicion. Beijing’s Concerns Regarding the China-India-Russia AxisDespite the summit optics, Beijing is acutely aware that structural obstacles prevent the emergence of a durable axis. For Beijing, the United States and Europe remain its most important economic and technological partners. For Beijing, the Tianjin summit was less about forging a new trilateral axis and more about managing global perceptions.