Editorial | Central Asian stability critical for China plans
- Beijing is strengthening economic ties with five countries that are key to its Belt and Road Initiative and attempts to counter US influence in the region
The break-up of the old Soviet Union in 1991 presented China with a new regional diplomatic landscape.
Beijing was quick to establish relations with Central Asian states that had just gained their independence from Moscow – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – to help safeguard China’s security and economic interests in regional stability.
On the 30th anniversary of Beijing sealing ties with these five countries, with three of whom it shares a border, the importance to China of their stability and freedom from foreign influence and interference has never been higher.
They still have strong links with Moscow, particularly in national security. But their economic ties with China are growing and are now critical to their national economies.
President Xi Jinping’s pledge on the anniversary, in a virtual meeting with the five Central Asian leaders, of US$500 million in aid to their countries over the next three years to improve livelihoods may be seen in this context.
Xi pledged support to the countries to “walk their own paths and defend their sovereignty”. He also hit out at foreign interference, saying Beijing opposed using human rights as an excuse to intervene in domestic politics.