Description
In Post-Soviet Central Asia, China’s economic clout has witnessed phenomenal growth. Trade between China and Central Asia has grown by over a hundred times in the three decades of their relationship. While on the one side, Chinese economic cooperation is growing apace, many Central Asian nations have witnessed several protests and instances of violence targeting Chinese presence. This study aims to explore the key issues in China’s economic engagement with the region and their role in shaping the perception of the local public. The methodology consists of an analysis of Chinese business practices and the nature of investments. The study concludes that the Chinese economic engagement in the region is principally elite-driven and has elicited a largely negative perception amongst the natives. Opaque Chinese business practices in the corrupt environment of the Central Asian republics have resulted in skewed economic growth rather than a comprehensive development of the region.
