China's plan to build a railway through central Asia is set to have a significant impact on geopolitics in the region. The proposed project would start in Kyrgyzstan and finish in Turkmenistan, passing through Xinjiang and Uzbekistan on the way. The scheme would end China's reliance on routes passing through Russia, while also offering other countries in the region an opportunity to reach foreign markets without dealing with Russia directly. Experts also fear the project could destabilise Xinjiang as it would pass through the country's predominantly ethnic-Uzbek southern region, which is disconnected from the north of the country.
China's plan to build a railway through central Asia is set to have a significant impact on geopolitics in the region. The proposed project would start in Xinjiang and finish in Turkmenistan, passing through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on the way. The scheme would end China's reliance on routes passing through Russia, while also offering other countries in the region an opportunity to reach foreign markets without dealing with Russia directly. Experts also fear the project could destabilise Kyrgyzstan as it would pass through the country's predominantly ethnic-Uzbek southern region, which is disconnected from the north of the country.