What stands behind transfer of part of the territory of Tajikistan to China?

As it became known, the parliament of Tajikistan ratified the protocol on transfer of one thousand square kilometres of the territory of the republic to China. The agreement in this respect was signed more than 10 years ago, but it was required to ratify still the protocol between the governments of two countries about demarcation and frontier delimitation. And it was made …

Opinions of the authorities and opposition diametrically dispersed. For example, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Hamrokhon Zarifi declared about “great victory of the Tajik diplomacy”. He reported, acting in parliament that “territorial dispute between imperial Russia, then the USSR and sovereign Tajikistan with China originates from the second half of the XIX century. Disputable territories covered about 28,5 thousand square kilometres of the territory of present Tajikistan that makes nearly 20% of the territory of our country. After protocol signing about 3% or about 1 thousand square kilometres from this disputable territories depart to China”.

Representing the point of view of opposition, the chairman of the party of Islamic revival of Tajikistan and the deputy of parliament Muhiddin Kabiri, on the contrary, characterized the agreement with China about territory transfer as “defeat of the Tajik diplomacy”. He explained: “Ratification of this protocol contradicts the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan the seventh article of which says that the territory of our state is uniform and indivisible. After ratification of this protocol about 1 thousand square kilometres of the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan will pass under jurisdiction of China”.

At the request of our portal the situation was commented by known experts in a situation in Central Asia:

Toktogul Kakchekeev, political scientist, executive director of association of political scientists of Kyrgyzstan:

– It is, first of all, the advance of geopolitical problems of the People's Republic of China. It is known that in recent times China made the decision to buy the lands on the basis of liberal traditions, and also to rent even badlands worldwide. Huge funds were allocated for these purposes. Today the lands in Africa, Latin America, and, apparently, in the countries of Central Asia are bought. In the beginning it was with Kyrgyzstan when the border mountain ridge of Uzengi Kush with billion cubic kilometres of glaciers at president Akayev was seized which will provide the People's Republic of China with drinking water.
The People's Republic of China, possessing the world foreign currency reserves, pursues expansion policy, uses the laws of the liberal economy which have been given rise in interests of the Western business world. However, the People's Republic of China, being the holder of securities and currencies of the USA and EU, almost became a considerable element of world influence.

This influence of the country the CIS feels with big caution – it is a bright example of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. And further Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation are in prospects. For implementation of the strategic plans within SCO the People's Republic of China made the offer on allocation of 10 billion US dollars for Investbank opening for the countries of Central Asia; further it can double and treble... That will allow to remove traditional influence of the Russian Federation and seeking to extend the influence of the USA. The only thing that convinces: activization of Russia taking into account all these feeble efforts - last meeting of ODKB in Bishkek.

Asilbek Bisenbayev, Candidate of History, political scientist, analyst, author of scenarios, consultant and producer of documentary films and television projects:

- Transfer of disputable territories and all countries which created SCO had them is normal international process. Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan received from the USSR and the Russian Empire “inheritance” in the form of disputable territories with the People's Republic of China.

After negotiations between the countries the exchange took place and by that the relations between us were strengthened, actively developing international organization SCO was created.

Probably it is a question of “occupation of part of the territory of Tajikistan by the Chinese armies”. Information isn't confirmed by any of government bodies of the People's Republic of China and Tajikistan, and therefore is at the best simply it is the hearing made by unfair mass media, and at worst - the provocation directed on destabilization of a situation in Central Asia.

According to the whole complex of international treaties including bilateral, the People's Republic of China can't and won't occupy the part of the territory of the independent country, in this case of Tajikistan.

It is clear that such actions would undermine safety system in the region and the world. China, as well as Russia and the countries of Central Asia, is interested in stability, safety and development of the economic relations.