Kazakhstan–China Relations: Perceptions of China After the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had far-reaching consequences and, as has already been observed by several authors, it had important geopolitical, economic, and also ideational implications in Central Asia. This article focuses on the case of Kazakhstan and explores what those consequences mean for relations between Kazakhstan and China. Some scholars expressed the view that Kazakhstan had already departed from Russia's influence and become China's closest ally. The article discusses to what extent that can be considered true. To better analyse this case, an eclectic approach is employed which considers both economic and ideational factors. The research demonstrates that the Russian invasion of Ukraine did catalyse both an intensification of China-–Kazakhstan cooperation on the high-political and economic levels and an improvement in public perceptions of China. Despite these significant developments, however, the research findings undermine exaggerated or alarmist interpretations that have been circulating among some scholars.