The European Council on Foreign Relations has issued a new report on China’s role in Central Asia. From their introduction:
China has set its sights on Central Asia, triggering a new Great Game in a region where Europe, Russia and the US have all long sought influence.
As the five Central Asian states become increasingly important as a source of oil and gas, a market for consumer goods and as the core of the strategically-important Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China is now “clearly confident it can reorient Central Asia towards Beijing” and away from the world’s other major powers.
China Analysis: The new Great Game in Central Asia, published today by the European Council on Foreign Relations and Asia Centre, explores these issues by analysing the evolving debates among experts within China itself. The authors argue that the EU should closely watch Chinese policy in Central Asia – the region is becoming “almost a laboratory for Chinese foreign policy.”
Read the full report here (PDF).
