An Analysis Of The US Central Asia Policy "3.0" (2014-)

Central Asia is located in the central part of Eurasia.It is rich in oil and gas and has great importance on strategic position.After the independence of the Central Asian countries,the United States regarded the Central Asian region as an important area to deliver its national interests.Since then,the development of U.S.policy towards Central Asia has gone through three stages.This article will consider these three stages as U.S.'s Central Asian policy "1.0","2.0",and "3.0",respectively.In the first phase of Central Asia policy,the United States mainly focused on maintaining the independent status of Central Asian countries,promoting the denuclearization of the region,and obtaining energy in this region.In the second phase,countering terrorism and advancing democracy became the main themes of this phase.With the announcement of the end of the Afghan war by the United States,U.S.policy on Central Asia had also officially entered the "3.0" era.At this stage,the Obama administration and the Trump administration are both focusing on all-round cooperation with Central Asian countries in the economic,political,and security fields.The reasons for the formation of the "3.0" policy of the US Central Asia mainly include the following aspects: in order to adapt to the new situation in Afghanistan,the strategic need to contain Russia under the new situation,to curb China's rising influence in Central Asia,and to fight against terrorism in Central Asia.Compared with the previous two phases of the Central Asian policies,the characteristics of the Central Asian policies of this third phase are showing certain continuity in terms of strategic objectives,,but in terms of policy implementation methods,this policy seems more pragmatic with less ideological debate.The Central Asian policy of the United States at this third stage has affected Central Asian countries,Russia,and China.Firstly,it has increased the influence of the United States in Central Asia;secondly,it has intensified the struggle between the United States and Russia in this area;and thirdly,it has had a certain impact on the promotion of China's "Silk Road Economic Belt" in Central Asia.In order to offset the impact of the new U.S.policy on China's Central Asian policy,China should first strengthen all-round cooperation with Central Asian countries in the economic,security,political,and humanities fields;secondly,cooperate closely with Russia to actively promote the Silk Road economy Belt and dock with the Eurasian Economic Union;finally explore possible cooperation with the United States in Central Asia.