Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

PhD Candidate, International Relations

Abstract

Security priorities of a country are not only affected by its internal situation, but sometimes regional situation is also a determinant factor of these priorities. The effectiveness of regional situations is especially when the subject country has a growing economy. After the collapse of USSR, the Central Asia had the same effect on China’s security priorities. China is an emerging global power in Central Asia’s region. This emergence is obvious from economic, political and security aspects.
Since 1990, Beijing has first taken a security approach for improving its relations with Central Asian countries, so that it can pave the road for other converging elements. It seems that China can take advantage of Central Asia both as a target and a tool for achieving other targets. This article is emphasizing on the hypothesis claiming that China has chosen the approach of “extended security” for its relations with Central Asia and has prioritized its economic interests in the region. This article tries to answer that why and how China follows the security-oriented economic strategy in Central Asia.

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