As Russia tries to restore its empire in the west, Russia finds it is losing influence in Central Asia. That should set off alarm bells in Moscow if Russia wants to hold their Far East holdings on the Sea of Japan.
Kazakhstan declares independence of action:
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine emboldened Kazakhstan’s President Kassym Jomart Tokayev to finally step out of his predecessor’s shadow in a bid to chart a new path for his country. Kazakhstan, a state historically under Russian influence, now endeavors to follow an independent foreign policy where Nur-Sultan can pursue opportunities irrespective of the Kremlin’s preferences.
Despite including Europe in its new opportunities path, a "new path" means China for all practical purposes:
Tokayev seeks to deepen relations with the European Union and China to reorient Kazakh foreign policy away from the toxic dynamics which characterize Russo-Kazakh relations. In addition to economic opportunities with China, Tokayev aims to deepen security cooperation with Beijing. China, owing to the importance it’s placed on Kazakhstan for its Belt and Road Initiative, has established a foundation for deepening security cooperation with Kazakhstan through bilateral military exercises and investments in the Kazakh government’s surveillance capabilities. Tokayev and Chinese Minister of Defense Wei Fenghe said that Kazakhstan and China will expand military cooperation at a meeting on April 25.
Which is a natural evolution of China's economic push in Central Asia.
Which is helpful to America's position in the western Pacific. As long as China doesn't actually take over Russia's Pacific territory taken from China in the 19th century.
And if Russia loses its influence in Central Asia, Russia's hold on its Far East loosens.
Which should really worry Russia given China's dormant--for now--claims.
Russia plans to hold strategic military exercises in the east of the country starting next month, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, thousands of miles from the war in Ukraine. ...
The eastern military district includes part of Siberia and has its headquarters in Khabarovsk, near the Chinese border. The exercises will include some foreign forces, the defence ministry said, without specifying from which countries.
But a suggestion to the Russians--don't let the Chinese observe you too closely.
Will Russia end its self-defeating hostility toward the West and face the real threats to Russian territorial integrity?
