SCO Cyber Counter-Terrorism Exercise Held in Xinjiang
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conducted its ‘Tianshan-2026’ joint cyber counter-terrorism exercise on July 23 in Urumqi, Xinjiang, bringing together delegations from all member states to strengthen multinational cooperation against online terrorist threats, according to Xinhua News.
The exercise, organized by the competent authorities of SCO member states with assistance from the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Executive Committee, focused on countering the evolving characteristics of terrorist activity—its globalization, networking, and increasing use of intelligence capabilities.
Responding to a Digital Threat
The drill simulated a scenario in which an international terrorist organization used the internet to spread terrorist, separatist, and extremist ideologies, recruit members within SCO member states, and plan attacks. Participants coordinated closely to rapidly identify cyber risks, lock onto suspects, and support offline operations and arrests.
The exercise reflects growing concern among SCO members about how terrorist organizations are leveraging digital platforms for propaganda, recruitment, and operational coordination. As the Ministry of Public Security reported, the scenario was designed to address the “three evils”—terrorism, separatism, and extremism—as they manifest through online channels.
Multinational Coordination in Action
According to China News Service, the exercise achieved its stated objectives of coordinated operations, mutual learning, deepened trust, and consensus building among participating nations. Member state teams gave high praise to China for hosting the exercise.
Kishan Singh, head of the SCO RATS Executive Committee, said the exercise was “well-organized and effective,” enhancing member states’ practical capability to coordinate responses to cyber terrorist threats.
A senior official from China’s Ministry of Public Security Cybersecurity Bureau stated that China will use the exercise as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation in cyber counter-terrorism among SCO member states, continue to crack down on cyber terrorist activities, and jointly maintain regional security and stability.
A Growing Legacy of Cooperation
The ‘Tianshan-2026’ exercise builds on a long history of SCO counter-terrorism cooperation. The SCO RATS, established in 2002 as a permanent SCO body headquartered in Tashkent, has coordinated annual joint anti-terrorist exercises since 2006. The Tianshan series—named after the mountain range spanning Central Asia—began with a China-Kazakhstan exercise in 2006 and has since expanded in scope and participation, as documented in reports on the Tianshan-3 (2017) exercise along the China-Kyrgyzstan border.
Cyber counter-terrorism has become an increasingly important focus. The SCO held its first cyber counter-terrorism exercise in Xiamen in October 2015, followed by subsequent exercises in 2017 and 2019. The 2019 Xiamen exercise marked a significant step forward, with eight member states simulating a complete crackdown against online terrorist propaganda—from initial detection through investigation, location, and capture of those responsible.
Strategic Implications
The exercise comes amid a broader push by the SCO to strengthen its security architecture. At the Tianjin Summit in August 2025—the largest in SCO history—member states approved the “SCO Development Strategy for the Next Ten Years (2026-2035),” which emphasized strengthening cooperation against terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
The ‘Tianshan-2026’ exercise appears to be a direct implementation of those strategic goals, signaling that cyber security and counter-terrorism cooperation remain top priorities for the organization as it expands to 10 member states, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus.
What to Watch For
As terrorist organizations increasingly exploit digital platforms, the SCO’s cyber counter-terrorism cooperation is likely to deepen further. Future exercises may expand to address emerging threats such as artificial intelligence-enabled propaganda, encrypted communications, and cryptocurrency-based terrorist financing.
The organization’s ability to translate exercise scenarios into operational coordination will be tested as real-world cyber threats continue to evolve. For now, the ‘Tianshan-2026’ exercise demonstrates that SCO member states are committed to building practical, interoperable capabilities to counter the digital dimensions of terrorism—a challenge that no single nation can address alone.