CHINA AND BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become one of the most influential geopolitical and economic projects that influenced contemporary Central Asia. While governments in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan consider the BRI as an opportunity for large-scale infrastructure development, investment inflows, and enhanced regional connectivity, public reactions in those countries have been considerably more complex. This article examines the multidimensional impact of the BRI in Central Asia, with a specific focus on rising anti-Chinese sentiment, migration-related anxieties, and socio-political tensions. Drawing on academic literature, expert analyses, and survey evidence, this article aims to demonstrate that Chinese labor migration, unequal economic benefits, weak corporate social responsibility, environmental concerns, and limited cultural understanding contribute to widespread apprehension in local societies towards China. Despite China’s increasing role as the region’s dominant investor, the BRI’s effectiveness is diminished by public distrust, fears of demographic imbalance, and the perception of economic dependency. The article argues that although the BRI offers significant strategic and developmental potential, its social repercussions—especially the growth of Sinophobia—pose long-term challenges for China–Central Asia relations.