Russian and Chinese interaction in Central Asia under the changing international order: from the perspective of western scholars

The global geopolitical situation is undergoing profound changes. Power is being redistributed, old alliances are being renegotiated and new ties are being forged. The interaction between Russia and China in Central Asia is very important. China is involved in infrastructure development and economic cooperation under the Belt and Road project, and Russia has historical ties with Central Asian countries. Studies by Russian and Chinese scholars show that this co-operation is not zero-sum. Western scholars hold different views on this cooperation, which can be summarized into five perspectives: the strategic partnership perspective, the economic cooperation and interconnectivity perspective, the geopolitical competition perspective, and the Eurasian integration perspective. The aim of this paper is to provide Western scholars with ideas on Russian-Chinese interaction in Central Asia against the backdrop of the changing international situation.