IN FOCUS
By Avishka Ashok

China’s stakes in Kazakhstan amid violent riots in the country

China’s response to the crisis in Kazakhstan
On 10 January, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation with the Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and expressed China’s support to the Kazakh government amid violent riots and protests in the country. President Xi Jinping also shared a personal video message and condemned the provocation of unrest and instigation of “colour revolutions” by terrorist forces within the country. He pledged that China would provide all necessary aid to safeguard the relationship with Kazakhstan.

On the same day, Wangi Yi held a telephonic conversation with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and voiced the belief that China and Russia must oppose the external factors and the “three evil factors” from causing chaos in Kazakhstan. China defined religious extremism, territorial secessionism and violent terrorism as the three evil forces that cause instability in a state, including the Xinjian region in China.

China’s relations with Kazakhstan
China’s association with Kazakhstan can be traced back to the 2 Century BC. On 3 January 2022, China and Kazakhstan celebrated 30 years of their diplomatic relations. China has played an important role in developing the Central Asian country after the fall of the USSR by investing in the Kazakh infrastructure, trade and transportation. The country became a much greater part of China’s foreign policy in 2013 with the introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative. The trade between the two countries amounted for USD 22.94 billion in 2021 and recorded a growth of 14.7 per cent.

China’s interests in Kazakhstan
1. The ethnic factor
Since the 2000s, China has witnessed numerous violent movements in its Northwest frontier of Xinjiang which has a largely Turkish demography. China prioritizes maintaining peace and stability in the neighbouring Kazakhstan to prevent secessionists from gaining access to resources and establishing its roots and influencing the fragile peace in the province.

2. The Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, President Xi Jinping launched numerous infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan as a part of the Belt and Road Initiative. China aimed to restore the ancient access routes to Kazakhstan that existed historically and was known as the Silk Route. The country became an important part of the land route that connected China and Europe.

3. Economic interests
China has invested heavily in Kazakhstan, most of which are about to enter the output phase after almost decades of pushing investments in the country. In the coming two years, almost 56 projects worth USD 24.5 billion are expected to near completion and begin profiting the Chinese businesses. China has high stakes, not only in Kazakhstan but also in other Central Asian countries after the fall of the USSR. It has advanced itself in the trade of pharmaceuticals, medical scholarships, educational scholarships and other fields.

4. Energy interests
Although there is a considerable trade deficit between the two countries, China is in fact dependent on Kazakhstan for its energy needs. In 2013, China bought an oilfield in the country for USD 5 billion and also invested in other solar panel factories and wind farms. The countries also cooperate with each other on the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline. Moreover, China also imported 4.02 million tonnes of natural gas in 2021. On an average, China imports over 20 percent of its natural gas from Kazakhstan, which suggest and equal and mutual dependence in their bilateral relationship.  

References:
“Firm support from China to Kazakhstan to end violence and unrest: Chinese FM to counterpart,” Global Times, 10 January 2022
“China says it supports Russia deploying forces to Kazakhstan to quell unrest,” The Strait Times, 11 January 2022
“China, Kazakhstan exchange congratulations on 30th anniversary of ties,” CGTN, 3 January 2022
“Kazakhstan unrest: how will China’s economic interests be affected by the protests?,” South China Morning Post, 7 January 2022

IN BRIEF
By Keerthana Nambiar and Dincy Adlakha 

INTERNAL
China’s population increases less than half million; births lower further
On 17 January, the National Bureau for Statistics announced that China’s population has increased by less than half a million in 2021. This is the fifth consecutive year where the number of births have lowered in China. The data has been collected from all 31 provinces and autonomous regions excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The number of babies born in China in 2021 has dropped by 11.5 percent from the 2020 count. The data set raises concerns for Chinese authorities as three-child policy does not seem to take off. (Orange Wang and Luna Sun, "China’s population up less than half a million in 2021, births plunge again as crisis deepens," South China Morning Post, 17 January 2022)

Documentary revealing corrupt activities of former senior official causes sparks
On 16 January, Global Times reported that a recently released documentary that showed a former vice security minister taking bribes has started a heated discussion. The documentary was a part of a show produced by China's anti-graft authorities. The senior official is charged with taking bribes of humongous amounts from members of an important interest group. The episode has triggered social media discussions on Weibo and other common apps as Chinese public shames the former vice security minister for his actions. ("Documentary revealing former vice security minister’s bribery sparks discussion," Global Times, 16 January 2022)

ECONOMY
Lockdowns in China raise fears of new supply chain woes
On 17 January, the Economic Times reported that suppliers and retailers throughout the world are worried about another wave of supply chain disruptions. The article recounted that 1.5 percent of China's population is currently under lockdowns to avoid widespread omicron spread. Firms fear closing down of Chinese factories and ports which will lead to new supply chain woes as the previous waves of the pandemic have brought. China's zero tolerance policy through contact teaching and mass testing may be detrimental for supply chains. (Ana Swanson and Keith Bradsher, "Supply chain woes could worsen as China imposes new Covid lockdowns," Economic Times, 17 January 2022)

Chinese economy records 8.1 percent growth in 2021
On 17 January, the Chinese government revealed that the country’s economy grew by 8.1 percent in 2021. Despite the growth, the country faces internal pressure to bolster their economic activity in the coming year after the growth slowed down in the second half of 2021. In the last quarter of the year, the economy sank by 4 percent. An economic analyst from Capital Economic said: “Economic momentum remains weak amid repeated virus outbreaks and a struggling property sector.” (“China’s economy grows 8.1% in 2021, slows in second half,” The Asahi Shimbun, 17 January 2022)

TECHNOLOGY
China's J-20 fighter jets partake in nocturnal drills
On 16 January, Global Times reported that China's J-20 fighter jets of the PLA conducted nocturnal battle drills against other warplanes. Experts said that the purpose of these night drills is to hone stealth skills of the aircrafts. Additionally, other combat exercises like attacking a target at ground and electronic warfare were also practiced. The details of this nocturnal training were shared by CCTV. (Liu Xuanzun, "J-20 fighters conduct nocturnal battle drill to hone stealth advantages," Global Times, 16 January 2022)

China launches Shiyan-13 satellite
On 17 January, the Shiyan-13 satellite was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in the Shanxi province. A Long March-2D rocket was used for the launch. With the latest launch, China has marked the 406th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets. (“China launches new satellite,” Xinhua Net, 17 January 2022)

INTERNATIONAL
Foreign Minister rejects belief that China must fill the power vacuum in the Middle East
On 16 January, Global Times reported that the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey and Iran between 10 and 15 January. Wang Yi expressed his belief that there is no vacuum in the Middle East that China needs to fill. Political analysts in China believe that the Middle Eastern countries are now worried about the weakening US presence in the region and believe that they should engage with China to secure their national interests. Wang Yi said: “Facts have repeatedly proven that the international community may contribute to stability in the Middle East but should not make things worse. The Middle East can use external models for reference, but should not directly copy those models. "Neoliberalism" is not a panacea.” (“Middle East has no ‘power vacuum,’ needs no ‘foreign patriarch’: Wang Yi,” Global Times, 16 January 2021)