The weakest links: Bishkek attack exposes security risks for Chinese projects in Central Asia
The suspected terrorist attack on the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek has yet again exposed weak links in security in Central Asia, a key focus of Beijing’s energy and overseas investment agenda.
With the suicide bombing pointing to a resurgence in terrorist threats in the region, analysts have called on Beijing to weigh security concerns carefully as it rolls out its ambitious “One Belt, One Road” scheme.
China can’t feel secure about its citizens or installations in the region and needs to think about their security in a more comprehensive way
The analysts said the timing of the attack was significant, coming just days ahead of the Group of 20 summit this weekend and the 25th anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Alexander Gabuev, a security specialist at the Carnegie Moscow Centre, said the attack showed terrorist threats in Central Asia were on the rise, and China had become a target.
“[The] recent development sets an important precedent. China can’t feel secure about its citizens or installations in the region and needs to think about their security in a more comprehensive way,” he said.
Li Lifan, a researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, also said Chinese personnel and China-backed projects would face greater security risks in the region.