The New Global Battlefield: Eurasia’s Reemerging Heartland
Commentary
Leaders of Central Asia’s five independent states will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a critical summit on May 18–19 in China’s Xi’an city.
The five states are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
It is critical because Xi recognizes that Central Asia holds the key to the survival of China and the China-Russia-Iran alliance. It is equally critical for the West because the Central Asian states, plus Azerbaijan, represent a pro-Western bloc, which cleaves through the heart of the Russia-China-Iran power bloc.
Xi formally invited Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. They will pay state visits—the highest diplomatic form of visit—to China from May 16 to 20….