China’s Eurasian Detour: Bypassing Russia, Dodging U.S. Sea Power
“A once-overlooked trade route across the Eurasian landmass is now a key strategic priority for China in this new era of global uncertainty. The Middle Corridor—a multimodal network stretching from China’s western border through Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, and into Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye—has shifted from a peripheral option to a central pillar in Beijing’s geopolitical agenda.”
“The corridor includes two main transit paths: one through Georgia to the Black Sea with onward sea shipment to Europe, and another entirely overland via Georgia and Türkiye into the EU. This internal route flexibility gives Chinese companies greater agility to adapt to shifting conditions and navigate emerging risks.”
“In this context, China has aligned its efforts with those of regional partners to enhance port operations on both sides of the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Kazakhstan’s state-owned national railway company and the Lianyungang Port Group, a major Chinese state-owned port and logistics operator based in Jiangsu Province, have agreed to jointly invest in a container hub at the Port of Aktau, located on Kazakhstan’s Caspian coast.”
“Similarly, China, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan have signed an agreement to develop a joint cargo terminal at Azerbaijan’s Port of Alat, designed to streamline the transfer of goods between ships, trains, and trucks. Both initiatives aim to reduce transit times, lower costs, and expand cargo-handling capacity, ultimately boosting the efficiency of the trans-Caspian corridor.”
https://chinaglobalsouth.com/analysis/chinas-eurasian-detour-bypassing-russia-dodging-u-s-sea-power/