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To see a list of previous articles, enter “Ukraine” in the Search Box on the upper right, on The Trenchant Observer web site, and you will see a list in chronological order.
Dispatches
1) “Chinese President Xi Jinping vows backing for Kazakhstan’s sovereignty,” The straits Times,September 15, 2022 (6:00 a.m. EDT);
2) “Russian intervention in Kazakhstan,” The Trenchant Observer, January 6, 2022;
3) “Russian intervention in Kazakhstan II (January 7, 2022),” The Trenchant Observer, January 7, 2022;
4) “Russia and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) decide to send troops to Kazakhstan–text of CSTO Charter,” The Trenchant Observer, January 5, 2022.
Analysis
The Straits Times (Singapore) reports on Xi Jinping’s declaration of support for Kazakstan 0n September 14 during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev, consolidated his power in January 2022 after calling for Russian intervention in the country to put down a popular rebellion. While he did ask the Russians for help, he ensured that they withdrew all of their troops as soon as the rebellion was put down.
The Straits Times reports:
NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN – Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed full support for Kazakhstan’s sovereignty at a time when the former Soviet Central Asian region has been spooked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“No matter how the international situation changes, we will continue to resolutely support Kazakhstan in protecting its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr Xi said during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to a Kazakh government statement.
Xi’s statement is highly significant, revealing a policy of supporting the sovereignty of former Soviet republics, at least in Central Asia. There are implications for China’s policy towards Russia and Ukraine, but they are subtle and for the moment left unspoken.
The Trenchant Observer
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