China In Eurasia

Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

Lockdown In Islamabad

Following the killing of two Chinese engineers and shooting deaths of 21 miners, Pakistan's capital was put under security lockdown as Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang landed in Islamabad for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting.

Here's why that's important.

Finding Perspective: Li's visit is the first by a Chinese premier to Pakistan in 11 years, and he was received by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the airport.

The SCO meeting with nine of the bloc's full member states kicked off on October 15 and will last two days.

Unlike the leaders summit that occurred back in July in Kazakhstan, this current gathering in Islamabad is a heads-of-government meeting that features the prime ministers of SCO members Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the vice president of Iran.

Worried about security, the Pakistani government announced a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, with schools and businesses shut and large contingents of police and paramilitary forces deployed across the city.

Pakistani authorities have also sought to curb all movement of Chinese nationals in the city, citing fears of violence from armed groups.

What To Watch: Tensions were rising in the capital after the main opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan called for a protest on October 15 in the city if the government did not allow Khan's family members, lawyers, and doctors to meet him in prison.

Security tensions have also been inflamed by attacks in the country, including those targeting Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

On October 6, an attack with explosives near Karachi's Jinnah International Airport killed two Chinese nationals. The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility.

Chinese citizens working in Pakistan have become targets for militant groups in the country and a point of growing tensions between Beijing and Islamabad.

Another attack in northwest Pakistan killed five Chinese engineers in March and a high-profile 2021 suicide bombing killed nine Chinese engineers.

Why It Matters: The attacks on Chinese nationals are likely to figure in the talks as Li and Sharif lead their respective delegations to discuss economic and trade ties and cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion infrastructure investment under China's Belt and Road Initiative.

CPEC has faced setbacks on the ground in recent years amid funding disagreements, security concerns for Chinese workers, and corruption scandals.

Sharif is hoping to use the SCO meeting and Li's trip, which also includes a bilateral visit, to reignite Chinese interest in CPEC and calm some of Beijing's lingering security concerns.

Sharif's office said he and Li already discussed economic and trade ties and cooperation during a meeting on October 14.

They both also already virtually inaugurated the CPEC-funded Gwadar International Airport in Balochistan Province in a ceremony telecast live by Pakistan's state-run TV.

Sharif described the airport as a gift from Beijing and the people of China to Pakistan.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Tsai Visits Europe

Taiwan's ex-President Tsai Ing-wen spoke in Prague on October 14 and said the self-ruling island is on the front line of defending democracy from assaults by authoritarian countries.

The Details: The comments came at the Forum 2000 conference, where Tsai shook hands with Czech President Petr Pavel.

The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but the two sides have moved closer as Beijing ratchets up military threats against the island and Taipei seeks new friends in Eastern and Central Europe.

Pavel and Tsai spoke briefly at the opening of the conference, and the former Taiwanese leader sat through an opening speech by Pavel and a panel he was part of.

Pavel's office said he did not plan a meeting with Tsai, and the former Taiwanese president later also met with the heads of both chambers of the Czech parliament.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing firmly opposed the visit to Prague.

Tsai will carry on to Brussels where she is slated to meet with officials.

She was also set to travel to Britain, but the Guardian reported that the UK Foreign Office asked for Tsai's visit to be postponed so as not to anger China ahead of a trip by Foreign Minister David Lammy.

2. Laying BRICS

Ahead of Russia hosting the BRICS summit next week, the Kremlin walked back its comments describing Saudi Arabia as a member of the BRICS bloc of countries.

What It Means: Saudi Arabia has been invited to join BRICS but has not yet formally done so.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described it as a BRICS member and said its foreign minister would attend the upcoming October 22-24 summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

But when Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked to clarify Riyadh's status in the bloc, he said: "The summit will take place now. We will supply additional information on who will represent Saudi Arabia, whether it will be represented at this summit, and we will draw conclusions from this."

BRICS, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

High-level Saudi involvement at the summit would be a diplomatic boost for Moscow, who views the grouping as an important part of its strategy to counter U.S. global influence and defeat Western attempts to isolate it with sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

"Russia is not isolated. In the modern world, it is very difficult to isolate any country, especially a state like the Russian Federation," Peskov said.

3. A Stop In Belgrade

In the latest sign of close cooperation between China and Serbia, Li Xiaoxin, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and director of the State Commission for Public Sector Reform, arrived in Belgrade on October 14, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

What You Need To Know: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who met with Li, said Serbia is extremely proud of its "excellent relations, ironclad friendship, and overall cooperation with China." Vucic posted a photo of the meeting on Instagram, saying he and Li discussed economic cooperation between Serbia and China.

This cooperation is "dynamically developing" through numerous infrastructure and energy projects and "increasingly intense" investment cooperation, especially in mining and the automobile industry, Vucic said.

In addition to meetings with officials in Belgrade, members of the Chinese delegation are meeting with the leadership of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

The SNS said on October 14 that the visit comes after the establishment of cooperation between Serbia and China and after close party cooperation between SNS and the Chinese Communist Party.

Across The Supercontinent

Yuan Shortage: Chinese yuan-denominated loans have been a lifeline for some Russian companies since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But as The Bell reports, there isn't enough Chinese currency to go around and Russia is facing a yuan liquidity crisis.

Another China-Uzbekistan Deal: Uzbekistan's Senate ratified a government agreement with China on the mutual protection of classified information. The law, approved during a Senate meeting, has been sent to the president for final signing.

Ukraine Lessons For Taiwan: After witnessing the crucial utility of reliable networks in conflicts like Ukraine, Taiwan's government is taking steps in case a Chinese attack cripples the island's communications.

Taipei's main telecoms company, Chunghwa, and a British-European company, Eutelsat OneWeb, are expected to help bring Low Earth Orbit satellite Internet service by the end of the month.

Finland Goes East: Finnish President Alexander Stubb will make a state visit to China on October 28-31.

According to the press release, the Finnish president will discuss bilateral ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Ukraine war, and other international issues.

One Thing To Watch

Amid intensifying rhetoric and debate over Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and Europe's green transition, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said Europe must cancel plans to ban new fossil fuel-emitting cars starting in 2035 in order to reduce reliance on Chinese-made batteries.

In March 2023, EU countries approved a landmark law that would require all new cars to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035, effectively banning diesel and petrol vehicles, and 55 percent lower CO2 emissions from 2030, compared to 2021 levels.

But executives like Zipse have long pushed for regulators to permit various technologies -- including alternative fuels like e-fuels or biofuels and hydrogen fuel cell cars -- and said it will help keep European companies competitive.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.

Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'll be away for the next few weeks, so this is the last newsletter until mid-October. Until then, I'm RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

China And The UN General Assembly

World leaders have gathered in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) under the shadow of global conflict as wars rage in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere.

Here's what's on China's radar so far and what could play out as UNGA continues.

Finding Perspective: While the gathering began with the adoption of an ambitious document called the Pact for the Future, which contains a series of pledges to improve development, fight climate change, and take more sustained action toward ending conflicts -- among other measures -- the mood is not particularly optimistic at the UN.

In his opening speech, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Our world is heading off the rails, and we need tough decisions to get back on track."

U.S. President Joe Biden, in his last speech as president before the assembly, called for countries to band together amid the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and rising concerns about China's growing influence.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in New York as Beijing's highest-ranking official and used his remarks on September 23 at the Summit of the Future to stress China's position as a rival power to the United States and its role in leading shifts to the current global order.

"We need to build an equal and orderly, multipolar world and defend the UN-centered international system. The international order is based on international law and the basic norms of international relations, underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," Wang said.

China's top diplomat will also address the General Assembly on September 28.

What To Watch: Israel carried out air strikes against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon this week, which Lebanese authorities said had killed hundreds of people and sent tens of thousands fleeing for safety.

Wang already met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on the sidelines of the gathering and strongly condemned violations after Israel's large-scale strikes while saying Beijing firmly supported Lebanon.

Wang then said China has been working for peace in the Middle East and will continue to work with Arab countries and the international community.

Things were much more tense when Wang met with his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, where she demanded a clearer explanation of the circumstances behind the recent stabbing death of a Japanese boy in China.

Kamikawa asked that Beijing strongly punish the alleged perpetrator and that officials should also crack down on anti-Japanese comments online. Wang called the attack an "isolated incident" whose motive is unclear.

Elsewhere, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva touted a joint Chinese-Brazilian proposal during his September 24 speech to the assembly that calls for talks to begin between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has already rejected the proposal as "destructive" but the Brazilian leader still said his foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim will seek support for the plan from representatives of 20 countries later this week in New York.

Why It Matters: Beijing has been flexing its muscles at the UN for years to block and stymie Western initiatives as its international stature has grown, and now China is throwing its newfound superpower weight around, as well.

And with Washington taking a more hawkish stance against China in general, and especially lately due to its support for Moscow's war in Ukraine, the dividing lines have only become starker.

Beijing has sold itself as leader of the so-called Global South and through policies like the Belt and Road Initiative has aimed to offer the world's less-developed countries an alternative, non-Western model for growth and progress.

That strategy has led to widespread influence within the UN General Assembly, with strong pro-China diplomatic support coming from African nations, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America.

The current General Assembly also comes as Washington finds itself increasingly isolated from large portions of the Global South over its votes to protect Israel at the UN as the war in Gaza escalates.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Central Asia's Big Project Trickles Ahead

Kyrgyzstan announced it will allocate 11 billion som (roughly $130 million) from its state budget for the construction of the high-profile China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, my colleague Ernest Nurmatov from RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

What It Means: The announcement of new funds is an important step for the long-planned rail line, but the amount announced still falls below the $573 million Bishkek is expected to contribute toward its share of construction costs.

China announced the project would move ahead during a summit in May 2023 with Xi Jinping and Central Asian leaders. According to the agreements signed between Beijing, Bishkek, and Tashkent, China enjoys a controlling interest in the project, responsible for 51 percent of construction costs. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each have a 24.5 percent share.

However, questions remain over when and how Bishkek will allocate the remaining $443 million it will need to contribute for its section of the railway, especially given previous statements that construction could begin as soon as October.

2. Uzbekistan's Cotton Industry Looks To China

Uzbek officials are touting high yields in their cotton fields thanks to new technology and expertise brought from China, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports.

The Details: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev said an agricultural pilot program that aimed to experiment with different ways of growing cotton has brought encouraging results, with methods and equipment from China proving to be cost-efficient while still improving the quality of the crop.

The main advantage brought from the imported expertise is water-saving and energy-efficient benefits that the new equipment was reportedly able to contribute.

Uzbek Agriculture Minister Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov said Tashkent is satisfied with the results of the pilot project and now plans to expand it to cotton crops across the country.

3. More Joint Naval Drills In The Pacific

A detachment of warships of Russia's Pacific Fleet and the Chinese Navy entered the Sea of Okhotsk in the western Pacific as part of joint naval exercises on September 24.

What You Need To Know: Russia said earlier that it was starting the joint Russian-Chinese Beibu/Interaction 2024 naval exercise that would include anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons.

The Sea of Okhotsk in the western Pacific Ocean is located between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, and Japan's island of Hokkaido to the south.

The exercises follow a round of large-scale naval and air joint exercises in the Pacific and other oceans earlier this month.

The joint drills, which are increasingly taking place in new locations around the world, have alarmed the West and its allies like Japan. On September 23, Japan said Russia violated its airspace with a patrol plane.

Across The Supercontinent

Up and Running: China's Linglong tire factory, one of the premier investments under way in Serbia, is now operating one of its three plants, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

The Homeland: In 2024, 12,325 ethnic Kazakhs born outside Kazakhstan have moved to the country, according to official statistics.

The largest share of those arrivals -- 45.6 percent -- came from China, followed by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Russia.

Middle Corridor Boost: With traffic along the Eurasian trade route growing, Kazakhstan and China are set to launch a new container hub in Aktau, where one of the key ports for the Caspian Sea is located.

South Asian Expansion: Chinese electric-car giant BYD is expected to announce a new manufacturing hub in Pakistan, the Financial Times reports, which would be the automaker's first venture into South Asia.

One Thing To Watch

The death of Liu Wenjie, the finance chief of Hunan Province, by falling has triggered a flurry of speculation in China.

Liu's body was found outside her apartment building in Changsha last week and police say she was killed by two men who also happened to fall to their deaths from the building.

Amid an unconvincing official story for the turn of events, the case has captured the public imagination in China, even as censors work to delete online chatter. The case also adds to a growing list of deaths and disappearances that have set China's rumor mill into overdrive.

Zhu Hengpeng, a top economist who served as deputy director of the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) for around a decade, has vanished from public life since criticizing Xi's policies. High-profile cases last year involving China's defense and foreign minister have also captured international headlines and sparked speculation about behind-the-scenes power struggles.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.