Interaction between Russia and China in the SCO: Ensuring Security in Central Asian Countries

Introduction. The study aims to identify the significance of cooperation between Russia and China within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for ensuring security in the Central Asian region. It emphasizes that over the 25 years of its existence, the organization has accumulated significant positive experience in ensuring security, but has also encountered a number of problems that need to be resolved without delay. The aim of the study is to identify problem areas in the field of security in the Central Asian region based on the systematization of available data (regulatory, scientific, factual) on cooperation between Russia and China within the framework of the SCO.
Materials and methods. The research material consists of official documents adopted by the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, aimed at ensuring security in the region, combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, as well as drug trafficking, which is the main source of funding for terrorist organizations. Factual data (information on joint exercises and specific operations to prevent terrorist activities) and research articles on the stated issues were also used in the study. In addition to general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis and generalization of normative, factual and scientific data, which are facilitated by the systematic approach taken, the work also employed historical and chronological analysis, as well as problem-based and prognostic methods.
Results. Scientific research, regulatory and factual material on cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the SCO to ensure security in Central Asian countries has been systematised; challenges and threats contributing to the destabilization of the Central Asian region (terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking) have been identified; the characteristics of this region that have influenced the spread of terrorism, religious extremism and drug trafficking in Central Asia have been identified; an analysis of the foreign policy of Russia and China in Central Asia has been carried out; the reasons for Russia and China's interest in the region have been identified and the possible prospects for the development of the SCO in ensuring security in Central Asian countries have been noted; a number of proposals have been made to address the identified problems in order to improve security in the region.
Discussion. It is emphasized that active cooperation between Russia and China within the SCO is driven by a number of strategic reasons that reflect the common interests of both countries. It is noted that the fight against the «three forces of evil' (terrorism, separatism, extremism) is the primary goal of the SCO, which is enshrined not only in its founding documents but is also constantly reaffirmed and developed in a wide range of the organization’s legal and political documents. The achievements of the SCO and the measures taken to ensure security in Central Asian countries are traced. The advantages of the SCO over the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are noted in terms of the influence of the major players, primarily the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, on maintaining political stability in a region that is vulnerable to the spread of the «three forces of evil'. The main challenges faced by Russia and China in ensuring security in the Central Asian region are identified (asymmetry in the development of SCO member states, the «multi-vector' policy of Central Asian states and the continuing rivalry between them, the competition that has developed in recent years between Russia and China in terms of influence over Central Asian countries, and the «insufficient flexibility of the SCO' in making operational decisions), and possible solutions to these problems are proposed.
Conclusion. It has been noted that cooperation between Russia and China is a key factor in maintaining security in Central Asian countries, and that the vectors of cooperation and rivalry between the two powers may not only influence their development paths, but also change the situation in the region and the world, since the strengthening of Russia and China's influence in the region will exclude other players whose interest in Central Asia is growing rapidly.