China

The story of the Xinjiang Kazakhs: silent suffering along the Belt and Road

Relations between Kazakhstan and China are deepening fast. As a linchpin in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Astana hopes to pluck the fruits of this global infrastructure development strategy, which… [...]

70 years of Xinjiang: Beijing celebrates and enacts new political doctrine

The 70th anniversary of Xinjiang, China’s Uyghur region, was celebrated with great fanfare in Ürümqi. The ceremony was marked by the presence of Xi Jinping, the first Chinese president to… [...]

China in Central Asia: Fact-checking and myth-busting

Since the official launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, much has been said and speculated about China’s growing presence on the global stage – some offering nuanced… [...]

Kunlun mountains

Old town

A street partly covered by a mosque in the old town of Kashgar in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, which has been left untouched by the… [...]

Tajik people

This eagle is the symbol of the Tajik people leaving in the city of Tashkurgan, which is situated in the Xinjiang province of China. Tashkurgan is not far from Pakistan,… [...]

Spices in Kashgar

Some men buying spices at a shop in the old town of Kashgar, in the Xinjiang province of China. Credit: The editorial Find all… [...]

China’s Military Expansion in Tajikistan

Several American media outlets have reported that China is building a second military base in Tajikistan. This development would further China’s presence in the country, making it more than merely… [...]

Coronavirus in Central Asia: An Opportunity for China?

China’s involvement in the race for vaccinations in Central Asia confirms its aim to increase relations with neighbouring countries, primed for over a decade with the New Silk Road project. [...]

Turkmenistan became China’s number one gas supplier

Being far ahead of the other regional gas suppliers, Turkmenistan became the first energy partner of China in late January 2021, ahead of Russia. In the context… [...]

Turpan old streets

The old streets of Turpan have lots of these tall brick-build building on the second floor, used to dry the raisins which is one of the best known specialty of… [...]

Hardening Positions on Afghanistan following Summit in Dushanbe

Held on 17 September in Dushanbe, the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) clarified member countries’ positions on Afghanistan. Bringing together China, Russia, and four… [...]