Central Asian Politics: Why are Russia and China staring at Kazakhstan?

 Central Asian Politics: Why are Russia and China staring at Kazakhstan?

Leaders of China, Russia, and Kazakhstan

In recent days, Kazakhstani authorities have stepped up their statements about the country's geographical sovereignty and integrity, and are vigorously asserting citizens' right to defend their homeland.

The latest statement on the same lines came from the country's President Qasim Jomart Tokayune in a January 5 newspaper article in which he said that the people of Kazakhstan had inherited their sacred land from their ancestors. And they will protect it in every way.

The statements are in response to repeated claims about Kazakhstan's territorial borders. A statement on Kazakhstan was made by two Russian elected representatives in December last year, and an article about it was published on a Chinese website in April.

Both countries say Kazakhstan has been their part in the past and want to make it their part again.

On both occasions, the Kazakh government recorded its protests with the governments of China and Russia.

The Kazakh government has been very cautious about its relations with China and Russia and has avoided getting embroiled in a diplomatic dispute over economic, defense,

and trade ties with China and Russia, the two largest countries in the region.

The main reason for Kazakhstan to raise its head in front of its major neighbors is the growing national sentiment in the country and growing internal pressure on the government to look after national interests in its dealings with China and Russia.

However, the nationalist statements made by the government are aimed at appeasing internal elements rather than responding to external forces.

Russia's border claims

In a lengthy article published on the website of a Kazakhstani official newspaper, Kazakhstani President Qasim Jomart Tokayne said that Kazakhstan should fully respond to provocative statements by external elements about Kazakhstan's geographical security at the public and official levels. Should.

"The truth is that we all know that our land will never be occupied by any foreigner and will never be sold," he said.

He urged his compatriots to study the Kazakh language and research the history of Kazakhstan's Soviet era.

President Qasim Tokayune's remarks echoed a speech by former President and National Leader Nursultan Nazarbayev on December 15 last year, in which he emphasized that "Kazakhs They are the legitimate inheritors of the vast plains of Central Asia.

Tokayev did not name Russia in his article, nor did Nursultan Nazarbayev in his speech.

But the timing and content of the two leaders' statements made it clear that they were referring to claims made by members of Russia's House of Representatives about Kazakhstan's borders.

Two members of the Russian parliament, Ovech Slav Nikanov, and Yevgeny Fedorov appeared in the country's media in December, stating that Kazakhstan did not exist in the past and should be annexed by Russia.

In a seemingly deliberate response to these controversial claims, Kazakhstan's elected members and government officials issued harsh statements against Russian lawmakers.

The strong reaction by the government and elected members to the statements of the Russian parliamentarians was well received in the local media and public circles.

This is the second time in a year that President Tokyo's statements in defense of national interests have been well received in the country. In May last year, he also criticized the Eurasian Economic Union, an alliance of open slaves led by Russia, and expressed concern that the alliance was aimed at limiting the sovereignty of countries in the region, including Kazakhstan. To do