China has been stepping up engagement with five Central Asian nations hot on the heals of a ten-day tour of the Pacific. Observers say Central Asian leaders may be reconsidering their bilateral ties with Moscow in favor of China or the United States as the Russia-Ukraine war drags on.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi attended the third China+Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers meeting in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on June 8. The C5 are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
