In Kyrgyzstan, the political unrest resulting from the rigged parliamentary elections seems to be simmering down. However, to some countries, the effect of the Kyrgyz "tulip" revolution has just started coming into play. To Beijing, the so-called Rose Revolution and Orange Revolution that swept Georgia and Ukraine, respectively, over the past two years, hold significance for different reasons. Kyrgyzstan and China share a 1,000km border. As a result of this geographic proximity, Beijing has been very sensitive to revolt in Kyrgyzstan.
First, what concerns Beijing is whether the sudden transfer of power in Kyrgyzstan will have ramifications for Bishkek-Beijing relations and China's western borders. In dealing with foreign countries, ousted president Askar Akayev maintained a diplomatic equilibrium. In addition to enjoying good relations with China, Akayev allowed both the US and Russia to set up military bases on Kyrgyz territory. In 2002, the People's Liberation Army and the Kyrgyz military conducted their first-ever joint military exercises on Kyrgyz territory.
Akayev's ouster underscores the unease among China's leaders. State-run Xinhua News Agency reporters stationed in Kyrgyzstan have warned that any attempt by the US to increase the number of its troops amid Kyrgyzstan's troubles will have a negative impact on China's western frontier.
Beijing is also concerned that there may be a surge in the so-called East Turkistan independence movement, since Uighur independence forces have established strongholds in Central Asian countries near China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
In June 2002, Wang Jianping (
Beijing is also worried that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which was established in 2001 by the heads of state of six countries -- including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzatan, Tadzhikistan and Uzbekistan -- to seek security through mutual trust, has failed to respond to the crisis in Krygyzstan. According to media reports, Akayev decided to flee to Russia after consulting the EU.
Following the outbreak of turmoil in Kyrgyzstan, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been actively trying to solve the issue by sending envoys to Bishkek. But, though led by Beijing, the SCO has hardly had any role to play in this matter. Although Beijing argued that the SCO should not intervene in domestic affairs of any country, the function of the SCO has been questioned.
Lastly, the incident in Kyrgyzstan has reminded Beijing that it has to improve its image with Central Asian countries. Amid the mass uprising resulting from the disputed elections, Chinese proprietors in Kyrgyzstan become the targets of attack. Moreover, the Chinese embassy was even compelled to arrange chartered flights to evacuate Chinese expatriates. Some observers in Beijing have explained this by saying that Chinese expatriates are mainly successful businessmen who therefore stand out from locals.
In fact, Central Asian countries are looking warily at a rising China and do not feel friendly toward the influx of Chinese immigrants. If Beijing fails to resolve all of the problems it faces in Central Asia, it will have difficulty maintaining diplomatic relations with the region.
Fang Tien-sze is an assistant research fellow at the Cross-Strait Interflow Prospect Foundation.
TRANSLATED BY DANIEL CHENG
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