China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?

In recent years, Central Asia has garnered much attention from the international community, thanks in part to the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s continuing expansion in Eurasia, and the renewed interest of the United States, Japan, India, and the European Union in the region. The latter has sp...

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Main Author: Tony Tai-Ting Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2024-06-01
Series:Journal of Central Asian Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jcas-journal.com/index.php/jcas/article/view/4/4
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author Tony Tai-Ting Liu
author_facet Tony Tai-Ting Liu
author_sort Tony Tai-Ting Liu
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, Central Asia has garnered much attention from the international community, thanks in part to the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s continuing expansion in Eurasia, and the renewed interest of the United States, Japan, India, and the European Union in the region. The latter has spurred an institutional race in the region that bares semblance to the Great Game, a term popularized by Peter Hopkirk to describe competition between Russia and Great Britain in Central Asia in the 19th century. The emerging “New Great Game” is centered on Central Asia plus dialogues that a number of countries have established to gain an inroad into Central Asia and establish cooperation with the five “Stan” countries. Resting on its geopolitical and economic advantages, China has established a series of communication channels with countries in Central Asia, including the most recent establishments of the China-Central Asia Cooperation or the C+C5 in 2020, and the C+C5 Summit in 2023. Together with the Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China has shown clear interest in expanding its influence westward and shaping a favorable regional community in Central Asia. Centered on China-Central Asia Cooperation, this article examines China’s latest endeavor in Central Asia and other similar initiatives in the region that jointly serve as the driving force for the New Great Game. This article suggests that the C+C5 is not merely a branch of existing initiatives, but a new initiative that holds great potential for further cooperation between China and Central Asia.
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spelling doaj-art-202a06e4cb314593b34f95b6f8ec44f92025-07-11T09:12:32ZengKazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of KazakhstanJournal of Central Asian Studies3006-80613006-807X2024-06-01942395110.52536/3006-807X.2024-2.03China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?Tony Tai-Ting Liu0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3328-3903National Chung Hsing UniversityIn recent years, Central Asia has garnered much attention from the international community, thanks in part to the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s continuing expansion in Eurasia, and the renewed interest of the United States, Japan, India, and the European Union in the region. The latter has spurred an institutional race in the region that bares semblance to the Great Game, a term popularized by Peter Hopkirk to describe competition between Russia and Great Britain in Central Asia in the 19th century. The emerging “New Great Game” is centered on Central Asia plus dialogues that a number of countries have established to gain an inroad into Central Asia and establish cooperation with the five “Stan” countries. Resting on its geopolitical and economic advantages, China has established a series of communication channels with countries in Central Asia, including the most recent establishments of the China-Central Asia Cooperation or the C+C5 in 2020, and the C+C5 Summit in 2023. Together with the Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China has shown clear interest in expanding its influence westward and shaping a favorable regional community in Central Asia. Centered on China-Central Asia Cooperation, this article examines China’s latest endeavor in Central Asia and other similar initiatives in the region that jointly serve as the driving force for the New Great Game. This article suggests that the C+C5 is not merely a branch of existing initiatives, but a new initiative that holds great potential for further cooperation between China and Central Asia.https://jcas-journal.com/index.php/jcas/article/view/4/4china-central asia cooperationc+c5belt and road initiativesilk roadnew great gameinstitution
spellingShingle Tony Tai-Ting Liu
China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?
Journal of Central Asian Studies
china-central asia cooperation
c+c5
belt and road initiative
silk road
new great game
institution
title China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?
title_full China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?
title_fullStr China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?
title_full_unstemmed China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?
title_short China-Central Asia Cooperation: Old Wine in a New Bottle, or a New Cocktail in the Making?
title_sort china central asia cooperation old wine in a new bottle or a new cocktail in the making
topic china-central asia cooperation
c+c5
belt and road initiative
silk road
new great game
institution
url https://jcas-journal.com/index.php/jcas/article/view/4/4
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