It has become increasingly clear in the past few years that Russia has no intention to relax its grip over the former Soviet bloc. Ukraine has recently become a good case in point. Although Moscow is clearly preoccupied with keeping its western borders and geopolitical interests safe, it has not forgotten about the East. Russian President Vladimir Putins political project to pull former Soviet republics of Central Asia into the Kremlins orbit via the Customs Union, is part of a larger plan to bring Russia back to manage one fifth of the worlds largest landmass. Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has sought, through various economic treaties, to re-establish its control over the Central Asian republics. The Kremlins economic offensive is aimed at reining in increasingly independent Central Asian leaders. Russias influence has been growing in Central Asias poorest countries, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, while diminishing among its richest (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan). Its geopolitical project in Central Asia is facing increasing difficulties, as contenders from the East (China) and the South (Turkey) have emerged to challenge its power in the region. The clash of two titans Putins regional integration project will likely not prevent, but rather pave the way for Chinese comprehensive economic expansion. While Russia needs Central Asian states in the Customs Union for the purpose of maintaining its geopolitical presence, China pursues its economic benefits. Russia relies on its military might and traditional soft power in the region, whereas China applies its financial clout. So while Beijing refrains from all out confrontation with Russias interests (as opposed to PRCs hawkish approach to its neighbours in the East and South-East Asia), Chinese policymakers certainly take advantage of the Kremlins missteps and limited capabilities. Much to Russias dismay, the Chinese trade revolution is still in motion. Beijing has strong interest in President Putins Eurasian economic integration initiative, since a free trade regime in Central Asia would lay better conditions for the flow of Chinese goods and investments. President Xi Jinpings proposal to create the Silk Road economic belt with Eurasia aims to promote investment opportunities. Within the past year, China sealed $30bn investment package with Kazakhstan, $15bn deal with Uzbekistan and $3bn financial aid with Kyrgyzstan in various industries from oil and natural gas extraction to infrastructure projects throughout Central Asia. As much as Russia is having a tough time to adapt to the fact that China scooped the energy-rich Central Asia, it has already happened. Chinese-built gas pipelines boosted Central Asias regional integration without downsizing sovereignty of any of the states. Chinas oil and natural gas pipelines help Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to reroute their energy resources away from Russia, receding their dependency on Moscow. By 2020, China will be the largest consumer of natural gas and oil from the region of Central Asia. Likewise, a Chinese-funded oil refinery plant in Kyrgyzstan is going to break the Kremlins fuel supply monopoly. aljazeera/indepth/opinion/2014/02/struggle-central-asia-russia-vs-201422585652677510.html
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 20:33:02 +0000
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