The Impact of the New Silk Road on China's Relations with the South Caucasus Republics

Document Type : Original Research

Author
A. Banai Babazadeh
Graduate of Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch
Abstract
Transportation routes for Asian countries due to the geographical size of the ancient continent is of particular importance in explaining the regional system. This has led to major changes in China's regional policy as the most powerful Asian country and the most productive people in the world. Meanwhile, the role of the South Caucasus as a bridge between China and the West and European export markets is very important. Therefore, using the capacity of the Caucasus as a link between its strategic interests, especially in the field of energy and trade, Beijing provides the ground for increasing interactions with the republics of the South Caucasus under the banner of the New Silk Road (One Belt One Road) project. On the other hand, in the history of relations between Asian and European states, the Caucasus has become known as the key to continental relations. This role doubles the responsibility of Caucasian states in their more favorable interaction with China.

Therefore, efforts will be made in the current research, by putting emphasis on the analytical and theoretical perspective of the regional system, to examine China's regional policies towards the South Caucasus republics and the impact of the New Silk Road project on increasing Beijing's influence in the South Caucasus, as well as the history of economic relations between Beijing and the Caucasian states based available documents. Meanwhile, the research hypothesis is based on the fact that due to the establishment of China's foreign policy based on economic interactions with regional governments, increasing China's relations with the South Caucasus republics to build a new Silk Road economic project, stabilizes China's position in the region and will strengthen relations in other economic areas.

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Political Organizing of Space
Volume 2, Issue 4 - Serial Number 8
December 2020
Pages 256-265