The opening early last month of a new Central Asia-China gas pipeline is the latest demonstration of Beijing's growing influence over the natural resources of the region. China's voracious appetite for energy resources has led to intriguing developments in its relationship with Russia and its Central Asian neighbors, and it is tempting to see in them a new chapter in the long-running battle for supremacy in the region. But while some take solace in such rivalries, we must recognize that all countries have a stake in the development of Central Asia and should help to ensure that it does not become a breeding ground for unrest and instability.
Central Asia is at the intersection of Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Once situated along the main trade route between East and West, it has been a backwater for over a century, serving to link more strategically pressing areas despite possessing some of the world's largest reserves of oil, gas and metals. Countries in Central Asia have endured autocratic, repressive governments' exploitation of that natural wealth and the resulting instability. In recent years, Islamic fundamentalist groups have been effective in marshaling public anger over misgovernment. They have made the most inroads in Afghanistan, but progress is evident throughout the region.
China and Russia have focused on the region for several reasons. They both hunger to exploit its vast mineral wealth. They worry about the danger of contagion from unrest that might spill over borders. They both seek to extend their influence, and deny similar opportunities to geopolitical rivals. Working together, Russia and China have used the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to engage the key nations of Central Asia in joint security efforts, and to promote mutually beneficial economic development.