China’s influence is growing in Central Asia. What does that mean for Russia?

Beijing focuses on development as it avoids challenging Moscow as Central Asia’s dominant power and security guarantor, analysts say

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed this possibility on Monday, saying there was “no reason for such fears”.

“China is our privileged strategic partner, and the Central Asian countries are our natural historical partners,” he added.

But to diplomatic observers, Moscow has limited capacity to counterbalance China’s growing influence, even though Beijing is avoiding challenging Russia as Central Asia’s key security guarantor and dominant power.