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Study On Russia's Interaction With China In Central Asia Within The SCO:Cooperation Coexists With Competition(2001-2015)

Posted on:2019-12-03Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Ildar NizameevFull Text:PDF
GTID:2416330542482847Subject:International relations
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After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and establishment of new independent national republics the USSR successor Russia lost its influence on Central Asian affairs.The first decade after the collapse was driven in accordance with the US policy and not enough attention was given to Central Asia.But in the beginning of XXI century when Vladimir Putin became the President of Russian Federation its foreign policy turned priority to post-soviet republics and China.Soon in 2001 the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO)was established and became an institution which provides a field for cooperation in Central Asia.In this case interaction between Russia and China is extremely important because they are major powers in the region and possess responsibility for Central Asian affairs.Russia needs Central Asia as a historically strategically important region which guarantees security of Russian border;provides markets of various goods;provides Russia with natural resources.In such circumstances Russia had not enough power and resources to achieve necessary goals solely and thus needed an ally with common interests which China is.The main purpose of the thesis is to provide a comprehensive analysis of Russia's interaction with China in case of Central Asia including the SCO framework and find out why Russia both cooperates and competes with China in Central Asia.The Shanghai Cooperation Organization became a mediator in Central Asian affairs.Its main aims were security management in Central Asia,economic development of member countries,cultural exchanges between them.It became the first Central Asian intergovernmental organization which included China in comparison with CSTO and EurAsEC where China was not involved in.The SCO played a significant role in Russia's interaction with China,within its framework many bi-and multilateral agreements were signed,joint military and cultural activities were held.In Central Asia the SCO also provides huge benefits including economic enhancement and security.But the SCO framework is limited by Chinese non-willing to cooperate with Russia in terms of global military activities.The SCO is not a military organization and China has no desire to make the SCO as a contemporary answer to NATO.Nowadays Russia puts a huge emphasis on cooperation with China in Central Asia region.Chinese economic potential and growing military capacity along with common interests encourages Russia to cooperate with China as an ally.This is profitable for both states to cooperate.Security provision in Central Asia(CA)and fight against terrorism,extremism,separatism,drug trafficking in southern part of CA about which Russia is highly concerned goes along with Chinese concerns about its Western parts including Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region.Thus state of security in CA is profitable for both Russia and China.The other important sphere of cooperation is economic.Russia really needs China as an economic partner because it can provide relatively cheap and good-quality products.Moreover,China is of the main importers of Russia's raw materials.But along with the cooperation Russia tends to compete with China in Central Asia.And the first Russian threat is that China once can become an economic hegemon in Central Asia and thus get a political dominance.Current tendency of Chinese economic participation inCA markets makes Russia to concern and impose implicit barriers.Thus Russia doesn't want China to have overwhelming dominance and tries to compete it.Then how this dichotomy cooperation-competition leads Russia to interact with China? Russia's interests in Central Asia are vital and essential that is why Russia wants to secure CA region and keep it as a buffer between Russian border and dangerous areas.Russia provides financial,military and political assistance for Central Asian countries when necessary in order to keep this zone under its influence.China shares common goals in terms of security in Central Asia.Strong ally is a serious advantage;it shares costs of security provision.Bilateral economic treaties provide sides with mutual gains thus Russia just cannot refuse them.Moreover Moscow is highly concerned about Western dominance in the world and Westernpresence in Central Asia.China shares Russian view that unilateral hegemony in international relations of XXI century is abnormal and supports ideas of multipolarity.Thus,abovementioned cooperation factors lead Russia to be cooperative with China with the existence of competition.To sum,Russia's interaction with China in Central Asia within the SCO is highly beneficial for both.Russia gains more from cooperation than loses from competition.Surely,Russia could benefit more if it wouldn't compete with China,but the threat of China's growth makes Russia to somehow limit the cooperation and impose implicit obstacles for China in Central Asia.
Keywords/Search Tags:Russia, China, Central Asia, SCO
PDF Full Text Request
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