The influence of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia

Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was announced by president XI in 2013 in Kazakhstan. The initiative which became one of the most ambitious connectivity and infrastructure projects in modern international politics. Central Asian countries occupy strategic position within the initiative due to their geographical position. The region connects China with Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.

Within the framework of BRI China invested significantly in transportation network, trade corridors and industrial infrastructure of the Central Asian countries. Huge investment in development project of the region enabled China to expand its political and economic influence in the region.

This study is an attempt to examine the influence of the BRI in Central Asia from the perspective of Neoclassical Realism. The central argument of the study is that China's engagement with the countries of the region is driven not only by shifts in the international distribution of power. Rather, by domestic economic imperatives, leadership perceptions, and strategic concerns regarding regional stability. The study analyzes the economic, political, security, and geopolitical dimensions of China's growing presence in the region. At the same time, it assesses implications of BRI for regional states and competing great powers. The article concludes that the BRI has transformed the geopolitical landscape of the region by strengthening China's influence while simultaneously creating new opportunities and challenges for regional actors