China-Russia Relations in Central Asia

1. Front Matter

   Pages 1-12

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 13-14

3. Historical Background and Political Contextualization

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 15-32

4. Energy Policy and Major Energy Projects from 1991 to 2011

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 33-56

5. State of Research: Sino-Russian Relations Research post-1991

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 57-68

6. Research Design – Theoretical Framework, Methodology and Hypotheses

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 69-91

7. Empirical Research – Shifting Sands: Bulwark against the US or “Coming Replacement”

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 93-125

8. Conclusion

   • Thomas Stephan Eder

   Pages 127-132

9. Back Matter

   Pages 133-151

   PDF

​As China rises to global power status, its relations with other major powers, including Russia, are constantly renegotiated. Energy figures prominently in both countries’ foreign policy. An extensive analysis of Chinese language sources – academic debate 1997-2012 – confirms a collision of interests over Central Asian reserves. While unanimous appeals to compromise render previous predictions of impending confrontation unconvincing, descriptions of Sino-Central Asian energy relations as “central to energy security”, and the explicit rejection of a Russian “sphere of influence”, also exclude a retreat. In the long term, China will likely replace Russia as the dominant force in Central Asia’s energy sector, causing the Kremlin to perceive another “encroachment”. The current notion of a “strategic partnership” will inevitably be challenged.​

• Central Asia
• China
• Energy Security
• Geopolitics
• Russia

• Institut für Ostasienwissenschaften, Universität Wien, Wien, Austria

  Thomas Stephan Eder

Thomas Stephan Eder, LLB LLM BA MA is Research Assistant at the Hong Kong University Law School and PhD Candidate in International Law at the University of Vienna Law School, Austria.

Policies and ethics