Fascinating talk
βChina's influence is growing in Central Asia, in very subtle ways, and we are trying to figure it out.β
βIn Africa, if a project goes wrong, you could just move somewhere else. If something happens in Central Asia, it could have immediate knock-on effects.β
βIt's a very kind of transactional relationship. Students learn Chinese not to read Confucius, but in the hope of landing a job.β
In Kazakhstan, a very young country, the issues of territory and sovereignty are really sensitive.
In Kyrgyzstan, the Chinese embassy is increasingly involved in local politics, sometimes dressing down ministerial officials over some disputes.
Scholars in Xinjiang are particularly cognizant of the importance of comprehending Central Asian affairs.
Increasingly, countries are worried about how their stances on Xinjiang will figure in the bigger picture of US-China rivalry.
Countering terrorism and Western meddling are issues SCO countries can broadly agree on. But Beijing wants so much more out of this grouping.
SCO has not presented many deliverables. But China's centrality in Eurasia is increasingly apparent now more and more countries are joining.
China's narrow security concerns in Tajikistan mean that Russia is not alarmed about Beijing's expanding military footprint.
Beijing and Moscow are careful not to tread on each other's toes. And that's been the base line.
Beijing is realizing that the Taliban of Afghanistan are not an easy group to work with.
Private Chinese entrepreneurs ironically are more willing to have a go now that the security situation has indeed improved since the Taliban takeover.
The Chinese at the official level are in fact reluctant in getting involved in Afghanistan.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a big idea, but the specifics have been intentionally left vague. It's really about a vision for the world.
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