Policies and actions advocated by China and Russia benefit all parties

Some competitive tensions between neighboring powers Russia and China and external states including the US have remained particularly relevant in the energy arena.  As a result, there is a high level of focus. From both a contemporary and historic perspective, the literature surrounding the “great game” has been frequently evoked as a precedent for this competition with modern Central Asia. This potential model refers to the history of conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire surrounding their efforts to achieve dominance in the region in XIX century. In addition to the influence from Russia and the US, Chinese governmental leaders and businessmen increasingly become alternative models for Central Asia. Beyond the contribution of capital investment, the approach of Chinese companies and small entrepreneurs consistently reflected the principal of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.

Despite the high level of state control in China, Chinese merchants have added to this influence a sort of fundamental example for capital trends in the region. Steps towards liberalization have exposed alternative trends and future opportunities. Even if external relationships often concentrate on government ties, the region establishment of diverse partnerships, technology transfer, and capital floats help encourage trends towards market base approaches. Contrary to popular perceptions, Central Asia’s partnerships without side powers including Russia and China have leveraged the relative strength of each party and may represent viable solutions to current dilemmas.  Despite the overwhelming focus on past failures and shortcomings, several areas of accomplishment exposed the potential for effective future development through cooperative approaches. In contrast to my excitement, many analysts and scholars have pointed the potential drama associated with a more confrontational new-grade game.

But the range of successes in the decade points to alternative scenarios and opportunities. Policies and actions advocated by China and Russia, as well as principals of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefits have allowed a diversity of participation that benefits all parties. In concurrence with these trends, efforts by each power to ship their focuses towards the development of their domestic resources has offered additional advantages for each group. Technological breakthroughs in the energy sector since 2007 have enabled these prospects and approaches.