Beijing Binds: COVID-19 and the China-Central Asia Relationship
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CAP Paper No. 232 Beijing Binds: COVID-19 and the China-Central Asia Relationship Raffaello Pantucci Meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. Photo from en.kremlin.ru Britain's Suburban Terrorists (London: Hurst, April 2015/US: Oxford University Press, September Raffaello Pantucci 2015), described by The Financial Times as 'the Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI most articulate and carefully researched account of Visiting Senior Fellow at RSIS Britain's 'suburban terrorists' to date. He is currently completing a writing project looking Raffaello Pantucci's research focuses on terrorism at Chinese interests in Central Asia under contract and counter-terrorism as well as China's relations to a major publisher. His journal articles have with its Western neighbours. He currently spends appeared in Survival, The National Interest, Studies his time between London and Singapore. Prior to in Conflict and Terrorism, Terrorism and Political joining RUSI in London in 2013, Raffaello lived for Violence, and RUSI Journal amongst others, and his over three years in Shanghai, where he was a journalistic writing has appeared in the New York visiting scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Sciences (SASS). Times, CNN, Guardian, Foreign Policy, South China He is the author of We Love Death As You Love Life: Morning Post, and more. 1 CAP Paper No. 232 Washington’s intensely negative perspective on route of attacking ethnic Chinese they saw in the China has obscured the ability to look in detail at markets. Whilst early rumours that violence in early what is going on around the world. While it is true February in Masanchi, south Kazakhstan between that many are concerned about China’s assertive Dungan (ethnically Han but religiously Sunni rise and how COVID-19 has been handled, the story peoples who have lived in the region for over a is not universally negative. In Central Asia, where hundred years) and Kazakhs was related to COVID- countries are increasingly dependent on China 19 inspired Sinophobia proved false,6 there were economically and are likely to become more so in a reports of violence against Chinese in markets in post-COVID-19 world, the narrative is a Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan7 and Tajikistan.8 In Bishkek, complicated one. Previous tensions have been Parliamentary Deputy Kamchybek Zholdoshbaev exacerbated by the virus, while at the same time made a speech in Parliament about how Kyrgyz China has strengthened its presence and should avoid contact with Chinese citizens and all relationships. The net result is likely to be an even those in the country should be forced to wear closer binding between China and Central Asia, masks.9 On January 29, a train in the south of notwithstanding the persistent tensions that exist Kazakhstan was stopped and two Chinese nationals between them. on board booted off when a panic set in that they might have the virus. They tested negative.10 Patient Zero and Sinophobia Reflecting a broader anger against China in the Given their physical proximity, it is interesting to country, in mid-February the announcement was note that none of the Central Asian powers have made to cancel the At-Bashi logistics center in pointed to China as the source of their initial Kyrgyzstan. The US$280 million project was signed infections. The one that comes closest to pointing during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping the an accusing finger is Turkmenistan, which on year before and had faced massive protests.11 It February 1 saw a flight from Beijing to Ashgabat was not entirely clear from reporting whether the redirected to Turkmenabat after a woman on board Kyrgyz government or company withdrew the was taken sick. She was discharged from the plane project, but it was obvious that it was the volume and placed in quarantine in a tuberculosis of local protestors that drove the decision. sanatorium. However, Turkmenistan has not yet Described as an articulation of fear of Chinese land- had any officially confirmed cases (and this story grab, the project’s collapse is a net loss to was not reported in official media). 1 In contrast, Kyrgyzstan as it would have helped restore some of Kazakhstan identified their first cases as coming the country’s role as a regional trade hub. There is from Germany on March 9 and 12,2 Kyrgyzstan no evident link between the project’s cancellation from Saudi Arabia entering on March 123 and and COVID-19, but doubtless it played into the Uzbekistan from France on March 15.4 Tajikistan background of protestors views. only admitted official cases in late April after there had been repeated reports of people falling sick Medical Aid Flows Both Ways from pneumonia type diseases, making public tracing of patient zero within the country Sinophobia was not, however, the pervasive view impossible.5 Rumours had circulated for some time amongst government across the region, with the prior to these official confirmations about cases, Uzbek,12 Kazakh13 and Kyrgyz14 governments all and it is interesting that all appear to have sending various volumes of medical aid to China announced their first cases at around the same during the first half of February. The Turkmen time. government sold one million masks to China at around the same time.15 In late January early This relatively late link did not, however, stop a February, they all gradually severed their physical wave of Sinophobia sweeping through the region in connections with China, closing direct borders, air January and February as people went down the 2 CAP Paper No. 232 routes and setting bans on arrivals from China. first medical aid from abroad that the Uzbek Armed These measures were imposed as much of the Forces had received.25 world was severing its contacts with the Middle Kingdom as the full measure of the COVID-19 Even before the aid (some of which was sold rather outbreak across China became clear. than gifted, though from open reporting more seems given than purchased), Chinese doctors It did not take very long for the tables to turn. By were heading to the region or providing regular mid-March, the Central Asians were facing their video conferences with their local counterparts to own outbreaks and started to seek support and aid share their experiences. For example, a group from from China. The Kyrgyz Security Council met and Xinjiang did a 15-day tour of Kazakhstan in early decided to request support from Beijing.16 Beijing April.26 The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) quickly reciprocated the donations, with aid representative in Tashkent met with his local starting to arrive by the end of the month. In the counterparts to discuss how China had first instance it was mostly to Kazakhstan17, implemented its lockdowns.27 The China Petroleum Kyrgyzstan18 and Uzbekistan19 (the three countries University, who is responsible for the Confucius that had admitted they were suffering from the Institute in Khujand, Tajikistan, launched the disease), but testing kits and Personal Protective translation in Russian of a manual to help deal with Equipment (PPE) were also handed over on March COVID-19.28 In Uzbekistan, a telemedicine system 30 (a full month before Dushanbe reported cases) was set up between Jiangxi and Tashkent to help by Chinese officials to their Tajik counterparts at provide sharing of experiences.29 Similar exchange the Karasu (or Kulma) border post.20 Turkmenistan structures have been suggested in Kazakhstan, remains a black hole of information. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. And this munificence has continued, with repeated The SCO has also played a growing role, flights of aid from both regional authorities across interestingly beyond the security space with which China (Xinjiang seems a natural leader, but lots of it is most commonly associated. On March 22, SCO other regions have provided support as well) as well Secretary General Vladimir Norov wrote an effusive as the business community. The Jack Ma letter to remote learning firm Weidong Cloud foundation followed up on an earlier promise of Education. A company with a strong footprint support to Shanghai Cooperation Organization through MoUs already around the region, Norov (SCO) members by sending planeloads of aid to all praised the firm’s contribution to member states’ Central Asian members.21 Companies with large ability to respond to COVID-19.30 In mid-May, the footprints in the region like Huaxin, Sany, Sinopec, SCO co-hosted a seminar with Alibaba to connect China Construction, China Road and Bridge Chinese doctors from the First Affiliated Hospital Company (CRBC) and many more, provided money of Wenzhou Medical University with their SCO or PPe (often through the local embassy). One counterparts. Potentially reflecting language shipment to Uzbekistan was sent by a group of preferences, the session did not include Indian and mostly Chinese defence companies using Uzbek Pakistani experts, but did include Observer military aircraft to distribute PPe to security officials member Belarus and Dialogue Partner Azerbaijan.31 and front line medical staff.22 In late April, the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek handed over PPE and Persistent Tensions medical aid to the State Border Guard Service.23 By mid-May, the PLA got into the action, sending But all good news must come to an end, and amidst supplies to their counterparts in Kyrgyzstan, this flood of support and aid there has been a Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.24 The Uzbek colonel consistent pattern of bad news stories towards receiving the aid in Tashkent noted that this was the China as well. An early one relating directly to the virus was a diplomatic spat at Dushanbe airport in 3 CAP Paper No. 232 early February when Chinese diplomats returning region as far as Kazakhs were concerned.41 It seems to the country refused to be placed in mandatory as though some of this tension also spilled over into quarantine.32 But most of the reported stories have the medical diplomacy China was providing, with focused on Kazakhstan, where the government has Chinese and Kazakh doctors arguing over the had to manage anger around an article that amount of PPE they were using in hospital.