Making Friends with Neighbors?: Local Perceptions of Russia and China in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Many studies have compared the Russian and Chinese projects currently underway in the Central Asian region, namely the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB), both of which seek to increase integration with Central Asian states. Yet little attention has been paid to how these endeavors are perceived locally by Central Asians themselves. This article aims to fill this gap by presenting the findings of a comparative discourse analysis of perceptions of Russia and China in online Russian-language media in Kyrgyzstan. The research reveals that while Russia’s role in the region has been seen primarily in political terms and China’s role chiefly in economic terms, these perceptions are changing, and that a growing percentage of articles are devoted to economics in the case of Russia and politics in the case of China. Another finding from this research is that China receives a greater percentage of positive coverage than Russia. It is suggested that as two important poles in the emerging multi-polar world, China and Russia should ensure their respective projects complement, rather than conflict, with one another in the region.