Beijing isn’t really in the business of shielding other states against Moscow. (For example, Kazakhstan’s public strongly supports Ukraine, and its government has spoken out in favor of Kyiv.)Īll of this makes China an appealing alternative. In addition to questions of capacity, Russia’s growing unpopularity in the region makes the presence of Russian troops more fraught. Post-Soviet ties once made Russia seem more appealing than China in much of Central Asia, but the war in Ukraine has changed those calculations. In January 2022, it sent thousands of troops to Kazakhstan to help put down an anti-government uprising. Russia was once a key guarantor of domestic stability. What regional governments want isn’t protection against the great powers but a security guarantee against domestic rebellions-long the chief military purpose of the Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In doing so, he likely intended to undo the damage done by Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye, whose recent ill-considered remarks questioned the legitimacy of post-Soviet countries.Īlthough Central Asian countries are seeking a reliable security partner in the absence of Russia, they’re not seeking one that is against Russia. During the meetings, Xi made a point to highlight that China supports state sovereignty in Central Asia. pundits about a Chinese push into Central Asia while Russia is distracted by its war in Ukraine. The Xian summit sparked concerns among U.S. Most of the public discussion centered around trade, but Xi also spoke of helping countries in Central Asia improve “law enforcement, security, and defense capability.” This rhetoric is part and parcel of China’s increasing focus on global security, which seems largely directed at the United States. Xi Meets Central Asian Leaders in Western ChinaĬhinese President Xi Jinping met with Central Asian leaders in Xian, a city in western China, last Thursday.
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