Central Asia between China and Russia: Exercising Agency in a Changing Regional Order

Edited by Giulia Sciorati

A key theme that emerged across discussions was the relatively limited degree of direct competition between China and Russia

This report draws on insights from three expert roundtables convened by LSE IDEAS in 2025, bringing together scholars and practitioners specialising in international security, migration and development, and global order. The discussions reassessed common assumptions about Central Asia, focusing on evolving relations between China and Russia, the responses of Central Asian states, and the role of external actors in a region shaped by multi-actor cooperation and growing autonomy.

The report addresses a central question: why has China’s expanding engagement in Central Asia not led to direct rivalry with Russia?

Organised around thematic expert contributions, the report examines Sino-Russian relations, China’s role in shaping regional order, and the economic and social dimensions of its engagement. It concludes with policy recommendations for the United Kingdom on how to apply existing priorities more effectively in Central Asia.