China's Role in Central Asia: Security Implications for Russia and the United States

Abstract

Central Asia, the collective Central Asian states that were a part of the former Soviet Union, is a land not well known to many peoples of the West, or East for that matter. A land of mystery perhaps, but it is also a land of strategic importance for both the West and the East. Situated between Europe and the Far East Asia, the states there have been invaded, conquered, and occupied by several different empires over the centuries. This article addresses Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, their strategic importance, their relationship with China, and the strategic implications of that relationship for Russia and the United States. There is a potential for either wide conflict or cooperation among the three great powers in this region. So far, the pivot appears to be China. Driven by its demand for energy, among other things, China has staked a claim in the three Central Asian states that border it.