Analysis of the Terrorism Risk against China’s Overseas Interests: Taking Central Asia as an Example 中国海外利益面临的恐怖主义风险分析 —— 以中亚地区为例

With the deepening of China’s exchanges with the outside world and the implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative in Central Asia, the risks against China’s overseas interests have accordingly increased, which also includes the risk of terrorism targeting Chinese citizens enterprises, and projects in the region. On the one hand, the rise of terrorism is closely related to the evolution of global terrorism as well as the complex political, economic, and social situations in the Central Asian republics. But on the other hand, it is also an inevitable phenomenon during the expansion of China’s overseas interests. Security challenges in Central Asia are currently on the rise. Every economy has been hit hard by the Covid-19 epidemic and social instability is increasing as a result. At the same time, due to the influence of global populism, the xenophobia in Central Asian countries has spread, thereby stimulating the participation of extremist groups in the terrorism-related activities. Therefore, it is necessary to pay full attention to the threat of terrorism to China’s interests in the region. The Chinese government should strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation with Central Asian, carefully protect the personal safety of overseas citizens, and prevent violent attacks from radical nationalists. Chinese enterprises also need to raise their awareness of counter-terrorism activities and improve their security work.