ABSTRACT
This chapter examines contemporary Chinese policy statements and Chinese-language scholarly articles on Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), and Mongolia to provide basis for examination of each state's bilateral relationship with China. Before examining China's bilateral relations with this volume's case study countries, it is first necessary to provide further evidence that China does in fact privilege economic exchange over other forms of political and diplomatic outreach with each state. China's current leadership also reference economic exchange as the primary vehicle through which China can achieve its strategic and security aims with Afghanistan. Statements by Ministry of Commerce, People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) and the Chinese ambassador to Tajikistan further stressed China's reliance on economic exchange with Tajikistan. Lan Jianxue of the China Institute of International Studies conversely argues that economic exchange between the two states serves the purpose of developing the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), which, in turn, contributes to internal security for China.
