China’s Diplomacy in Central Asia

Why in news?

The China and the five Central Asian republics (C+C5) grouping trade meeting indicated the growing diplomatic ties of china with Central Asia region.

Ancient Silk Route - Provided trade, cultural, and people-to-people links with the Central Asian region with china historically.
Break-up of the Soviet Union - This gave an opportunity to China to formalize the ties with Central Asia.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) - China’s relationship with the region was institutionalized with SCO.
Trade route - The central Asia provided trade route to Europe for China.
Chinese investments - Have helped to upgrade Soviet-era infrastructure and carry out development works in these countries.
Belt and Road Initiative - There are 51 BRI projects located in the region, which provides transit hub for China’s trade with Europe.
C+C5 summit - A grouping of China + Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
This summit is the latest development of series of Chinese engagement with Central Asia.

Summit of the C5 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a virtual summit of the C5 in 2022.
India’s first engagement with the Central Asian nations collectively at the highest level.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) - India being one of the member of SCO influence its decision on the region which are mostly related to security concerns.
Chabahar port - Provides the trading route via sea.
Air corridors - India should try the air corridors to overcome the hurdles of land route.

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Non availability of land trade route since its access being denied by Pakistan
Even though Chabahar port provide sea trade it is not fully developed yet
The Central Asia have well established relationship with china and Russia leaving less room for India
Even though India a member of SCO its decision are limited to security concerns
The Russia and china are cultural and historically connected unlike India so it’s hard to develop a deep relationship with the region

Quick facts
The Collective Security Treaty Organization	Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
It originates from the conclusion of the Collective Security Treaty. Collective Security Treaty was signed in signed in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) on May 1992. The member are Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia. The Collective Security Council (CSC) is the highest body of the Organization and consists of heads of the member States.	SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. Eight Member States - China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, its fight against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. The SCO has been an observer in the UN General Assembly since 2005.