Bumps Along the Belt and Road: Unpacking Sinophobic Sentiments in Central Asia (2002–2023)

China has rapidly emerged as Central Asia’s largest external economic partner and is a growing political patron and security provider to the region’s governments. Despite its gains in recent decades, China is viewed with increasing scepticism by the Central Asian public. In this article, we unpack the drivers that pushback against China takes in the region. Our analysis is based on 59 semi-structured interviews with experts, journalists and those affected by Chinese investment as well as an original dataset of 192 China-related protests. We divide these protests by the drivers and themes around which protesters mobilise. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on China’s BRI by identifying what drives pushback against Beijing’s rising global role, the forms that this resistance takes, and how this is shaping China’s ability to project power.