U.s. Military Strategy In Central Asia Study

Since Central Asian countries became independent, the U.S. Central Asia policy has undergone several adjustments and changes, yet the strategic thinking of U.S. foreign policymakers in designing U.S. policy toward Central Asia remains unchanged. Such geo-strategic thinking still dominates their minds, as to control the heartland of Eurasia, to take Central Asia as the strategic pivot to contain Russia, China and Iran, and to strengthen control over the Central Asian countries by military, economic and political means. In the process of US's infiltration to Central Asia, the military means continues to be considered as one of the most effective tools.The U.S. military strategy toward Central Asia has undergone threestages: the first stage is from 1992 to 1995, the strategy of the nonproliferation and denuclearization had been adopted; the second stage from 1996 to 2005, the military pivot strategy had been undertaken; and the third stage from 2006 till now (2008), the"Anti-anti-access"strategy adopted in response to Russia's opposition to its filtration into Central Asia.For Russia, the U.S. military expansion to Central Asia poses a real threat to its national security. As its national strength rising, Russia adopted the"Anti-access"policy to confront the U.S. military infiltration, which was expected to help Russia gain military preponderance and to defend Russia's strategic interest in the region. With"balance diplomacy"as the guideline, the Central Asian countries took a vigilant and cooperative attitude toward the U.S. Central Asia strategy. The 1990s witnessed smooth military cooperation between the U.S. and the Central Asia countries, which was even accelerated after 911. However, after the"Color Revolution"in 2005, Central Asian countries started to guard vigilantly over the US military strategy in the region.As for China, three tasks call for attention in order to address the US military strategy in Central Asia and to maintain military security of the region. First, at the multilateral level, China should take Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a platform to strengthen its military and political influence in Central Asia. At the same time the functions of SCO on security should be redefined and stressed. Second, at the bilateral level, China should enhance its bilateral military cooperation with the Central Asian countries to expand its military influence by continuing the supply of military equipment, conducting military personnel exchanges and trainings, and holding joint military maneuvers. Third, at the national level, China should build up its military strength and improve its west-border military forces'capacity to win informationized warfare.