One Belt, One Road in Central Asia: Progress, Challenges, and Implications

Abstract

“One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) is the multidimensional Chinese undertaking by design and by implications. It has economic, transport, geopolitical, cultural, historical, and security dimensions and encompasses such vast swaths of the Eurasian continent and oceans that it created an impression of global ambitions of China. Central Asia—erstwhile an epicenter of the ancient Great Silk Road—is once again acquiring a higher profile in the Eurasian and world order, not least due to China’s move westward that culminated in the OBOR phenomenon. Five Central Asian countries are facing China’s growing “authoritative and persuasive” presence in the region. The Central Asian shape of OBOR will be created in the geopolitically galvanized area; that’s why its progress is expected to be complicated, with immanent challenges and long-term geopolitical implications.