The Future Prospects of the SCO in Central Asia in the Context of Strategic Cooperation Between Russia and China

Abstract

The article focuses at the analysis of the role, importance and future prospects of the SCO in Central Asian region in the contextof strategic cooperation between Russia and China. There are three views presented within regional academic discourse on Russian-Chinese relations as “China-ally”, “China-enemy”, “China-partner-companion.” The first “China-ally” approach is based on ashared vision of the US as an enemy that lays the foundation for future cooperation between Russia and China. The second “Chinaenemy”approach assumes that China is alreasy causes a threat to Russia’s national interests. The third “China-partner-companion”approach focuses on the need for Moscow to combine flexibility and agility in the relationships with Beijing to explore opportunitiesto enhance Russia’s ability to cope with the Chinese challenge in the future, if any, will pose a threat. The article explores someaspects of accelerated growth of the Chinese armed forces, migration issues and economic expansion of China and its implicationsfor cooperation between SCO member-states.