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OpINION FEBRUARY 11, 2022 | The Indian Eye 10

understanding China’s growing

Military outreach in Central asia

DEEPAK KUMAR CHInese FootPrInts In cises with bilateral exercises. Courtesy: IDSA
Multilateral exercises allow Chi-
entral Asia has been tradi- Central asIa na to project its inventory for future PLA and locating PAP in Tajikistan
tionally considered an area If we recall Xi Jinping’s speech sales and inter-operability capabili-
Cof Russian security influence. of 2015, he spoke about military di- ties, whereas bilateral exercises allow appears to be a thought-out Chinese
strategy to keep itself within Russia’s
Over time and more so after the US plomacy as a critical element of Chi- it to project itself as a contender and red lines of not involving the army.
began to cede space in the region na’s foreign policy. In Central Asia, responder like Russia. Sponsoring However, it will not take much time
with folding of its bases in Uzbeki- China will protect itself from threats military courses for Central Asia pay for China to turn over or reinforce
stan in 2005, and Kyrgyzstan in 2014, to its national interests but in the back to China through an alumni ros- these posts with PLA, should such a
China’s security interests in Central short term, will avoid getting directly ter with a similar understanding of need arise. The presence of Chinese
Asia have grown. involved. It will involve the local gov- security issues, not to mention cama- troops near Wakhan which is about
Arguably, China has filled up ernments, possibly influence them raderie and old friendships. Central
the vacuum at the expense of Rus- in countries like Tajikistan and Kyr- Asia now has middle and senior-level 200 km from Gilgit Baltistan has
ramifications for India. Any Chinese
sia, which would have been the log- gyzstan. By supplying sophisticated officials who have been educated in EW (Electronic Warfare) monitor-
ical choice. Incidentally, on 1 August technologies, China is establishing Chinese universities. In the coming ing facility located here can be used
2017, China inaugurated a military a strategic foothold in areas where years, Chinese military education to track Russia’s military activities
base in Djibouti. This was a sharp Russia is lagging technologically. In will have a significant impact on the in the region and even India’s. Chi-
departure from China’s policy that it exercises and training, China has composition of military leadership nese proposed airports close to Ta-
does not station troops or set up mil- been balancing its multilateral exer- in Central Asia. Staying away from jikistan’s borders could be a part of
itary bases in foreign countries. the larger Chinese strategic design.
Likewise, in 2017 several re-
ports emerged of Chinese military PSCs can assume roles as consul-
tants, advisors and security providers
personnel in Tajikistan. Now, we but their main role could be surveil-
hear reports of Chinese military lance of the local governments and
presence in Equatorial Guinea forc- influencing governance and poli-
ing many to call it, China’s Military cies. Kazakhstan prohibits Chinese
Engagement along the Silk Route. PSCs, but Kyrgyzstan is open to its
If we transpose the Chinese design operations. China might pressure
in Central Asia, what will be the the weaker countries to legally allow
long-term consequences of Chinese PSCs in their sovereign territories.
military footprints in Central Asia?
Can China’s presence to secure
its vast Belt and Road Initiative net- russIa–CHIna dIssonanCe?
work in Central Asia affect the secu- There are commonalities of in-
rity balance in the region? terest between the two countries on
Further, can Beijing’s military Afghanistan, the US role in the region
competitiveness in Central Asia and support to incumbent regimes in
lead to a Russia–China divergence? Central Asia. Both are members of
And, what are the imperatives for China has built a massive rail network across Central Asia SCO and regularly participate in joint
India? Continued at next page... >>

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