China’s influence in Central Asia is expanding far beyond its high-profile electric vehicle exports and Belt and Road Initiative projects, with deeper economic and political ties reshaping the region’s energy, infrastructure, and trade dynamics. While Western powers focus on geopolitical rivalries, Beijing is quietly securing long-term partnerships through investments in oil and gas pipelines, digital infrastructure, and strategic mining ventures. Local governments are increasingly turning to Chinese financing and technology to modernize aging industries, raising concerns among neighboring powers about growing dependency. The shift reflects a broader pattern of China leveraging economic leverage to strengthen its presence in a strategically vital but often overlooked corner of Eurasia.
Beyond EVs and perception, how China is gaining ground in Central Asia South China Morning Post
