China’s energy strategy in central Asia: interactions with Russia, India and Japan

Abstract

China’s energy strategy and its overseas investments are subjects of an intense debate. Central Asia is a neighbour region, rich in oil and natural gas reserves, which seems the most likely to play an important role in the Chinese strategy to reduce its dependence on energy supplies from the Middle East. Therefore, this paper will try to assess China’s energy strategy towards Central Asia, analysing the following issues: China’s interests in the region; its energy security strategy, respectively the energy diplomacy and its investments in Central Asia, and the interactions with Russia, India and Japan in the energy field. The paper will finish with conclusions and comments regarding: the influence of the geopolitical and geo economic factors, respectively the efficiency, the durability and the potential developments of China’s energy strategy in Central Asia.