China Radar: South Caucasus is a monthly publication dedicated to China’s activities and influence in the three nations of South Caucasus.
China’s Presence, Activities and Influence in the South Caucasus
Political Activities
In a meeting with Georgia’s parliamentary speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, on 19 May, the chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Zhao Leji, said that China would “as always, support Georgia in following a development path independently chosen by its people and in line with its national conditions, and oppose external forces’ interference in Georgia’s internal affairs.”
Diplomatic Messaging
On 5 May, representatives of China’s Ministry of Finance “invited Azerbaijan to consider joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Development Bank.”
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In his letter to Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, on 26 May, Chinese Premier, Li Qiang, “noted that bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative had yielded fruitful results.”
Technological Influence
During the military parade on 28 May, Armenian armed forces demonstrated their Chinese CH-4 long-range UAVs.
South Caucasus Actors Expressing Support for China
On 14 May, former member of the Georgian parliament from Georgian Dream party, Beka Natsvlishvili, said that China would “become a defining force in the future world order,” and that “it is clear that the era of unilateral U.S. dominance has ended and no matter how pro-American or obsessed with America someone may be, they also realize this, because China is becoming a defining force of the world order.”
Stances and Activities by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Benefiting China’s Foreign Policy
Support for the Belt and Road Initiative
During a reception in Beijing on 28 May, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to China, Bunyad Huseynov, said that “cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative positioned Azerbaijan as one of the key participating countries,” adding that the transportation corridor through southern Armenia was going to be his country’s “next contribution to the Belt and Road project in the future.”
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In a meeting with the chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Zhao Leji, on 19 May, Georgia’s parliamentary speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, spoke of Tbilisi’s “willingness to participate in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.”
Papuashvili had also discussed Georgia’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative in a meeting with the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Huning, on 18 May, during which Papuashvili also reiterated that “the Georgian side firmly adhered to the One-China principle.”
Other Support for China and its Policies
On 20 May, during a visit to China, Georgia’s parliamentary speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, said he had discussed “the challenges facing the world today, including violations of the principles of international security and international law” with high-level Chinese representatives, adding: “It is clear that the Chinese authorities and we share an absolutely identical outlook: every country must return to a respect for international law and the principle of peaceful coexistence must remain paramount.”