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Opinion
Why China is taking on more responsibility in Central Asia
Amid increasing investments and a greater emphasis on security, China’s presence in Central Asia differs from its outreach to other regions
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Nigel Li is a research fellow at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Central Asian counterparts in Chengdu, Sichuan province, earlier this month as part of the fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The outcomes of the event underscore Beijing’s growing presence in Central Asia.
Following their independence in 1991, the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan grappled with challenges ranging from domestic strife and cross-border tensions – such as those between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – to the threats posed by Islamic extremism. While the region seems to be trending towards stability, the underlying causes of instability persist.
The war in Ukraine, now nearing its third year, has shifted some of Moscow’s attention away from Central Asia. The symbiotic relationship China and Russia each have with Central Asia has been characterised as Moscow holding the gun while Beijing holds the wallet. However, this dynamic has evolved, with Beijing inheriting the responsibilities of financial investor and security guarantor.
Beijing views strengthened economic and trade ties with Central Asia as a strategic pathway to guaranteed stability. By fostering regional integration and deepening cooperation, China aims to create an environment of shared prosperity that supports broader security objectives.
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