The New Great Game: How China is challenging

Russias hegemony in Central Asia in the postSoviet era

A BRIEF NOTE ON THE TITLE

The Great Game mentioned in the title alludes to the quondam fierce rivalry
between Britain and Russia for supremacy in Central Asia. Chinas stance in
Central Asia is deemed to be an apt successor of Britain, as Chinas international
reputation can be said to rival Britain.

INTRODUCTION
The influences and powers-to-be that shape Central Asia have always been fluid.
From great empires of renown to potential future world powers, they have all
made their mark indelibly one way or another in the belly of Asia. Historically,
Central Asia has always been subject to the rule of one or more colonial powers
in the preceding centuries.
Despite many former colonies throughout the world having been granted
independence, Central Asia still remains under the shadow of its former colonial
power: Russia. Russia has continued to maintain a key strategic and political
interest in the region; this has continued even following it having relinquished its
claims to the territories following the dissolution of the USSR and the signing of
the Belavezha Accords. Although the states are independent in name, Russia
continues to maintain close relations with them through the Commonwealth of
Independent States. As such, Russia still has a foothold in the erstwhile Soviet
Central Asia states.
The Central Asia states are namely Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan as well as Afghanistan. The
former five were under the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the
latter was under 14 years of Soviet influence as the (Communist) Democratic
Republic of Afghanistan.
Having experienced unprecedented economic growth in the decades following
Dengs reforms, China is now seeking to re-establish its prestige as the Middle
Kingdom; it has always fostered a superiority complex for several millennia.
With a strong military, China looks to reassert its former influence by force. Yet, it
has adopted a softer stance, by using soft power instead; this has entailed
greater economic cooperation between Central Asia and China through policies
such as the One Belt One Road strategy. The policy has been said to be an
extension of the Go West policy that China has previously (and still continues
to be) adapted.

The current paper will attempt to critically analyse the gaps left by Russias
withdrawal and how China is exploiting them. There are many reasons behind
Chinas decision to forge new ties with Central Asia, and the question is: Will
this cooperation bring great benefit to all signatories, or will China
disproportionately benefit from the endeavour? Furthermore, three questions
are asked: 1) Does the implementation of the One Belt One Road strategy in
Central Asia parallel Chinas efforts to Go West to Xinjiang and Tibet? 2) Has
there historically been more change or continuity in Chinas stance on Central
Asia? 3) What are the major political, economic and social ramifications on Asia,
and even the World, following the implementation of the One Belt One Road
strategy?

Shifting influences in:

Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Afghanistan