The Ties That Binds the Giant: China’s Interests in Energy Sources of Central Asia

Abstract

Following the collapse of Soviet Union, the interest of China towards the Central Asia first revolved around the security and border issues. Then the fast growing economy of China since 2000 needs energy more she can produce. Becoming one of the biggest energy users, China has become more and more dependent on other countries to fill her energy deficit. Thus China has identified Central Asia as her prime area to built cooperative relations. In this respect, China started new relationships with Turkmenistan and Kazakistan in order to secure and sustain the procurement of oil and natural gas.
 Thanks to its rich oil and natural gas reserves, Central Asia has become a region in which the great powers compete; with the years 2000s China joined to the rush. The rivalry in the region has a potential to change the balance of power in the World. This study evaluates this rivalry in terms of political and economic effects on China.