Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Central Asia Region in China’s Foreign Policy after 2013: A Geoeconomics Study

  • Abroad
  • Published:
Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The interests of China in Central Asia encompass a range of factors, including border security, insurgency, economics, energy, and geopolitics. Additionally, Central Asia plays an important role in China’s projects connecting Eurasia and Europe. Likewise, the proximity of Central Asia means that instability and security threats in the region have spread over impacts in Chinese territory that make Central Asia a very important component of China’s foreign policy. China has promoted a more assertive foreign policy with the rise of President Xi Jinping to power, devising a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims to strengthen China’s relationship with the region’s countries. The main argument of this research is that the growing importance of Central Asia in China’s foreign policy since 2013 has led Beijing to adopt a strategy to deepen trade imbalances, targeted spending in infrastructure and debt under the BRI that supports China’s ambition to achieve political goals in Central Asia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Data taken from the world bank data website (2019); https://data.worldbank.org/country/china

  2. D. Kumar, N. Browning, and O. Yagova, Global crude market finds support mainly from China demand. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27Z0KE. Cited April 11, 2021.

  3. “World distribution of uranium deposits (UDEPO) with uranium deposit classification,” in International Atomic Energy Agency (2009), p. 11.

  4. International—U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2018). https://www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/CHN. Cited January 10, 2021.

  5. Ryall, J. (2015). “Seeking Alliances to Counter China High on Abe’s Agenda during Five-Nation Asia Tour.” South China Morning Post. From http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1765806/seeking-alliances-will-be-high-agenda-abes-five-nation-tour-central-asia

  6. Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Ministry of Commerce, March 28, 2015.

  7. See, e.g., President Xi Jinping’s remarks at the Fourth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), May 2014, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/topics_665678/yzxhxzyxrcshydscfh/

  8. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (2015). https://www.fbicgroup.com/sites/default/ files/The%20Silk%20Road%20Economic%20Belt%20and%2021st% 20Century%20Maritime%20Silk%20Road%20MAY%2015.pdf.

  9. All the compilation of the information regarding agreements are gathered form the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peoples Republic of China; https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/

  10. China’s trade data confirm 2020 was a bleak year in Eurasia. (2021). https://eurasianet.org/chinas-trade-data-confirm-2020-was-a-bleak-year-in-eurasia.

  11. S. Honig, Who pays? Central Asia and China's debt dilemma, Foreign Brief (2020). https://www.foreignbrief.com/former-soviet-union/who-pays-central-asia-andchinas-debt-dilemma/.

  12. P. Gupta, China's debt trap in Central Asia. Vivekananda International Foundation (2020). https://www.vifindia.org/article/2020/october/01/china-sdebt-trap-in-central-asia.

  13. Tajikistan requests the previous loans' deferral and simultaneously applies for the new ones (2021). https://cabar.asia/ en/tajikistan-requests-the-previous-loansdeferral-and-simultaneously-applies-for-the-new-ones.

  14. From the video report made by Current Time (2019); https://en.currenttime.tv/a/how-much-money-does-central-asia-owe-china-/30171209.html

REFERENCES

  1. D. Scott, “The great power ‘great game’ between India and China: ‘The logic of geography.’” Geopolitics 13 (1), 1–26 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. S. Peyrouse, China and India in Central Asia: A New “Great Game”? (Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2010).

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. Farchy, “China’s great game: In Russia’s backyard,” Financial Times.  https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/files/pdf2015/FT2421-2015-10-19.pdf. Cited September 23, 2021.

  4. K. Afridi, M. Iqbal, and S. Hussan, “New great game in Central Asia: An analysis of China’s interests,” Glob. Soc. Sci. Rev. 2 (1), 1–17 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. Ren, “China’s non-intervention policy meets international military intervention in the post-Cold War Era: Focusing on cases of illegal intervention,” Ritsumeikan Ann. Rev. Int. Stud. 13, 127–155 (2014). http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/isaru/assets/file/raris/raris-13-06_Mu.pdf.

  6. Y. Kim and F. Indeo, “The new great game in Central Asia post 2014: The US ‘New Silk Road’ strategy and Sino–Russian rivalry,” Communist Post-Communist Stud. 46 (2), 275–286 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. N. Aliyev, “China’s soft power in Central Asia,” CACI Analyst. https://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-articles/item/13599-chinas-soft-power-in-central-asia.html. Cited September 15, 2021.

  8. S. J. Tovar and M. Lavička, “Folklorized politics: How Chinese soft power works in Central Asia,” Asian Ethnicity 21 (2), 244–268 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. N. Swanström, “China’s Role in Central Asia: Soft and hard power,” Global Dialogue 9 (2007). https://isdp.eu/publication/chinas-role-central-asia-soft-hard-power/. Cited September 21, 2021.

  10. M. Laruelle, China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Its Impact in Central Asia (Washington Univ. Press, Washington, 2018).

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. Gussarova and E. Khon, Russian Soft Power in Kazakhstan (and Central Asia): Taken for Granted? (Central Asia Institute for Strategic Studies, Almaty, 2017). https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/kasachstan/ 14108.pdf. Cited September 17, 2021.

  12. E. Rumer, “China, Russia, and the balance of power in Central Asia,” Strategic Forum, Policy Paper no. 223 (2006). https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/46312/SF223.pdf.

  13. S. M. Yenikeyeff, “Energy interests of the ‘Great Powers’ in Central Asia: Cooperation or conflict?,” Int. Spectator 46 (3), 61–78 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Y. L. A. Chiu, “The AIIB and the EU: Legal opportunities and risks,” Eur. Bus. Law Rev. 28 (5), 689–711 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  15. L. Jones, “Does China’s Belt and Road Initiative challenge the liberal, rules-based order?,” Fudan J. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 13 (1), 113–133 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Z. Chun, “The Belt and Road Initiative and global governance in transition,” China Q. Int. Strateg. Stud. 3 (2), 175–191 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. W. A. Callahan, “China’s ‘Asia Dream’: The Belt Road Initiative and the new regional order,” Asian J. Comp. Politics 1 (3), 226–243 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. E. Luttwak, “From geopolitics to geo-economics: Logic of conflict, grammar of commerce,” Nat. Interest, No. 20, 17–23 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  19. P. M. Schneider, “Geoeconomics explained,” (2016), https://www.chathamhouse.org/2016/12/geoeconomics-explained. Cited September 21, 2021.

  20. P. Malmgren, Geopolitics for Investors (CFA Research Foundation, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  21. H. Farrell and A. L. Newman, “Weaponized interdependence: How global economic networks shape state coercion,” Int. Secur. 44 (1), 42–79 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. S. Scholvin and M. Wigell, “Power politics by economic means: Geoeconomics as an analytical approach and foreign policy practice,” Compar. Strateg. 37 (1), 73–84 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. L. Jakobson, China’s Foreign Policy Dilemma (Lowy Institute for International Policy, 2013). https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/159724/jakobson_chinas_ foreign_policy_dilemma_web_1.pdf. Cited September 18, 2021.

  24. F. Liu, “The recalibration of Chinese assertiveness: China’s responses to the Indo-Pacific challenge,” Int. Aff. 96 (1), 9–27 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. A. G. Bitabarova, “Unpacking Sino–Central Asian engagement along the New Silk Road: A case study of Kazakhstan,” J. Contemp. East Asia Stud. 7 (2), 149–173 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. M. Clarke, Xinjiang and China’s Rise in Central Asia (Routledge, London 2013).

    Google Scholar 

  27. J. D. Yuan, “China’s role in establishing and building the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),” J. Contemp. China 19 (67), 855–869 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. https://www.sohu.com/a/334223602_428290. Cited October 21, 2021 (in Chinese).

  29. H. H. Karrar, The New Silk Road Diplomacy: China’s Central Asian Foreign Policy since Cold War (UBC Press, Vancouver, 2010).

    Google Scholar 

  30. A. Scobell, E. Ratner, and M. Beckley, China’s Strategy Toward South and Central Asia an Empty Fortress (RAND Cooperation, 2014). https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR500/RR525/RAND_RR525.pdf.

  31. S. E. Cornell, “The United States and Central Asia: In the steppes to stay?,” Cambridge Rev. Int. Aff. 17 (2), 239–254 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. R. Pradhan, “The rise of China in Central Asia: The New Silk Road diplomacy,” Fudan J. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 11, 9–29 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. S. Sukhankin, “The security component of the BRI in Central Asia, Part One: Chinese and regional perspectives on security in Central Asia,” China Brief 20 (12) (2020). https://jamestown.org/program/the-security-component-of-the-bri-in-central-asia-part-one-chinese-and-regional-perspectives-on-security-in-central-asia/.

  34. U. Batsaikhan and M. Dabrowski, “Central Asia—twenty-five years after the breakup of the USSR.” Russ. J. Econ. 3 (3), 296–320 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. S. Kumar, “China’s diversified energy strategy,” Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2011/9/28/chinas-diversified-energy-strategy. Cited September 18, 2021.

  36. S. Chen, W. Xing, and X. Du, “Forecast of the demand and supply plan of China’s uranium resources till 2030,” Int. J. Green Energy 14 (7), 638–649 (2017).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. World Nuclear Organization, Uzbekistan Uranium. https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/uzbekistan.aspx. Cited September 22, 2021.

  38. J. Sullivan and H. Brands, China Has Two Paths to Global Domination (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2020). https://carnegieendowment.org/ 2020/05/22/china-has-two-paths-to-global-domination-pub-81908. Cited September 21, 2021.

  39. FMPRC, Let the torch of multilateralism light up humanity’s way forward. Foreign Ministry of People’s Republic of China. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1848323.shtml. Cited September 19, 2021.

  40. H. Brands, “What does China really want? To dominate the world,” Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-20/xi-jinping-makes-clear-that-china-s-goal-is-to-dominate-the-world. Cited September 16, 2021.

  41. T. Börzel and M. Zürn, “Contestations of the liberal international order: From liberal multilateralism to postnational liberalism,” Int. Org. 75 (2), 282–305 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. “H. Gardner and Xi Jinping: Time for ‘new era’ China to ‘take center stage in the world,’” USAToday. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/18/ xi-jinping-time-new-era-china-take-center-stage-world/774958001/. Cited September 17, 2021.

  43. Z. Xin, “Xi Jinping calls for ‘new Long March’ as China digs in for long trade war,” South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3011186/xi-jinping-calls-new-long-march-dramatic-sign-china-preparing. Cited September 23, 2021.

  44. B. Dave and Y. Kobayashi, “China’s silk road economic belt initiative in Central Asia: Economic and security implications,” Asia Eur. J. 16 (3), 267–281 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. D. Tang, “China’s investment in Central Asian republics,” APAN Community. https://community.apan.org/ wg/tradoc-g2/fmso/m/fmso-monographs/194970. Cited September 22, 2021.

  46. D. Otorbaev, “Do Russia and China have coordinated strategies towards Central Asia?,” Valdai Club. https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/do-russia-and-china-have-coordinated-strategies/. Cited September 21, 2021.

  47. P. Dunay, “China’s influence in Central Asia,” Marshall Center. https://www.marshallcenter.org/sites/default/files/files/2020-10/pC_V10N3_en-6_Dunay.pdf. Cited September 15, 2021.

  48. Times of India, China Tajikistan border dispute: Expansionist China eyes Tajik territory. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/expansionist-china-eyes-tajik-territory/articleshow/77404479.cms. Cited September 22, 2021.

  49. E. Furukawa, “Belt and Road debt trap spreads to Central Asia,” Nikki Asia. https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Belt-and-Road/Belt-and-Road-debt-trap-spreads-to-Central-Asia. Cited September 16, 2021.

  50. B. Chellaney, “Why do so many Asian nations want to be in China’s debt?,” Nikkei Asia. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Why-do-so-many-Asian-nations-want-to-be-in-China-s-debt. Cited September 16, 2021.

  51. J. Hurley, S. Morris, and G. Portelance, “Examining the debt implications of the Belt and Road Initiative from a policy perspective,” CGD Policy Paper, 2017. https://www.cgdev.org/publication/examining-debt-implications-belt-and-roadinitiative-policy-perspective. Cited September 17, 2021.

  52. F. Olmos, “Pleasing China, appeasing at home: Central Asia and the Xinjiang camps,” Foreign Policy Centre (2019). https://fpc.org.uk/pleasing-china-appeasing-at-home-central-asia-and-the-xinjiang-camps/. Cited September 20, 2021.

  53. 24 KG, Exim Bank of China to reschedule debt of Kyrgyzstan. https://24.kg/english/151447_Exim_Bank_of_ China_to_reschedule_debt_of_Kyrgyzstan_/. Cited September 15, 2021.

  54. Bloomberg, China says debt payments paused for 77 nations after G-20 deal. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-08/china-says-debt-payments-paused-for-77-nations-after-g-20-deal. Cited September 15, 2021.

  55. B. Jardine, “China tightens its grip on Central Asia,” National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-tightens-its-grip-central-asia-164509. Cited September 18, 2021.

  56. H. Taliga, Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2021). https://www.ituc-csi.org/ IMG/pdf/belt_and_road_initiative_in_central_asia.pdf. Cited September 21, 2021.

  57. S. L. Shirk, “China in Xi’s ‘New Era’: The return to personalistic rule,” J. Democracy 29 (2), 22–36 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. N. C. C. Liao, “The sources of China’s assertiveness: The system, domestic politics, or leadership preferences?,” Int. Aff. 92 (4), 817–833 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. A. Goldstein, Rising to the Challenge: China’s Grand Strategy and International Security (Stanford Univ. Press, 2005).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  60. Y. Sun, Africa in China’s Foreign Policy (Brookings, Washington, 2014).

    Google Scholar 

  61. G. Csurgai, “The increasing importance of geoeconomics in power rivalries in the twenty-first century,” Geopolitics 23 (1), 38–46 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. R. D. Blackwill, J. Harris, and J. M. Harris, War by Other Means (Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, 2016).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  63. D. Chen, “China’s ‘Marshall Plan’ is much more,” Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/chinas-marshall-plan-is-much-more/. Cited September 16, 2021.

  64. A. Grace, “Comprehensive national power with Chinese characteristics: Regional security partnerships in the Xi era,” Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/comprehensive-national-power-with-chinese-characteristics-regional-security-partnerships-in-the-xi-era/. Cited October 20, 2021.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, 00-927, Warsaw, Poland

    S. K. Aryal

Authors
  1. S. K. Aryal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. K. Aryal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aryal, S.K. Central Asia Region in China’s Foreign Policy after 2013: A Geoeconomics Study. Her. Russ. Acad. Sci. 91, 743–753 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1019331621060149

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1019331621060149

Search

Navigation