Sinophobia Remains Underlying but Not Insoluble Problem in Kazakhstan, Almaty Scholar Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Sept. 4 – Anti-Chinese sentiment in Kazakhstan peaked in 2016 and again in 2019-2021 but has since receded, Ruslan Izimov says. At present, it is at a lower level in the past, but it can quickly reemerge if forces both within the country and abroad try to use it to distract attention or to push Astana in the directions they want.

            The specialist at Almaty’s Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies argues that the rise and fall of Sinophobia among Kazakhs show that it is not something that is part of their national identity but rather is a response to particular actions by China and by others (spik.kz/2369-sinofobija-v-kazahstane-iskusstvenno-razdutaja-ili-vremenno-zabytaja.html).

            That makes it a continuing problem for the Kazakh authorities who must constantly work to prevent Sinophobia from emerging, something that can happen all too easily if they don’t and China acts in ways that some can present as threatening to Kazakhstan’s national interests, Izimov says.