ABSTRACT
The importance of the Silk Road as a network of numerous interlinked trade routes connecting Eastern Europe and Africa to South Asia and East Asia, with present-day Eurasia or Central Asia, is well established. For the last three decades (post-USSR disintegration period), various initiatives have been taken for the revival of the historic Silk Road to augment overland commercial connectedness in the region. However, the US military operations and then the withdrawal, the Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan and the uncertainty in Central Asia have so far rendered the idea of its revival unviable. It is important to note that the present-day major international powers have distinct concepts of the revival of the Silk Road that seems to be moving forward at varying paces, operating parallel to each other. On the other hand, China is expanding its association with the Central Asia region and beyond through its BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) policy adopting a neo-mercantilist approach. In this context, this chapter aims to elaborate on China’s approach and challenges for the Central Asia region.
