The Confluence of Armenian-Chinese Interests

When Pashinyan visited China last May, there were very cordial exchanges at the time.

“We are united by the common goals of cooperation and civilization,” said the Chinese President Xi Jinping. He continued, “We are well aware of momentous events in the history of Armenia. We believe that the tragic events that befell the Armenian people must be prevented in the future.”

That was a direct allusion to the Armenian Genocide, yet on the other hand, in relations with Azerbaijan, China assures the latter that mutual relations are to be developed respecting the territorial integrity of both countries, the meaning of which is very obvious.

Answering the Chinese president, Pashinyan stated that “our peoples represent ancient civilizations. Already in the fifth century, Armenian manuscripts described ties between the two peoples.”

China was the first country to recognize Armenia’s independence; it is its second largest trading partner. Trade between the two increased 29 percent in 2018 to $771 million. What is most important is that Armenia is relying on Chinese support to achieve projects to improve its infrastructure.

China is already involving in some highway upgrades. But it is more significant to be included in the development of regional networks undertaken by Beijing in its Belt and Road Initiative, since Azerbaijan, in collusion with Georgia, has bypassed Armenia in all their joint projects.

China has spent $12 million to build the Chinese-Armenian Friendship School, where 400 students are immersed in a Chinese education.

China has been building Huawei’s Smart Cities around the world, from Germany to Singapore. There is talk that a similar Smart City is also being planned for Armenia, at a cost of $10 billion. That will give a tremendous technological boost to Armenia.

There are more prospects in the making: the Horasis China 2020 meeting which was planned to take place in Yerevan, was postponed because of the pandemic. Now it has been rescheduled for October 20-25, 2021.

More than 300 Horasis Vision Community members from businesses and governments will join an intense program. It is said that Horasis China “will play an accelerating role in the rapidly expanding trade and foreign investment between China and Armenia.”

Economic and technological cooperation is a welcome component to Armenia’s technological advancement, particularly in view of the fact that there is a concerted effort by Armenia’s neighbors to isolate it. But beyond that, Armenia is concerned with its security as it is facing existential threats with Turkey’s aggressive stance in the region.

Fortunately, Yerevan has assumed a more assertive posture in taking advantage of international developments.

It began to diversity its foreign policy when the opportunity rose, to partner with Greece and Cyprus when these countries were threatened by Turkey recently. A major development for Armenia is the recent opening with Egypt. Egypt is at odds with Turkey regarding Libya. But beyond that, Turkey has posed a larger challenge to Egypt, with its ambitions to lead the Sunni Muslim world.

Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan’s recent trip to Cairo and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s planned visit to Yerevan will enhance Armenia’s visibility on the diplomatic map of the Middle East.

As important as these developments are for Armenia, they cannot replace the support of a superpower, which Yerevan will find in China. It is believed that China has been helping Armenia militarily. But that cooperation will become more formal when the two countries join the Caucasus 2020 military drills scheduled to take place in Astrakhan, at Moscow’s initiative. Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan and China will be sending military delegations to the exercises to take place on September 21-26.

Russia and China have established a “comprehensive strategic partnership” to cooperate on military matters and in diplomacy to counter largely the US influence in their respective neighborhoods. They also cooperate at the United Nations, particularly on strategic issues on the Security Council agenda.

Although Armenia is small, for China it has significant strategic importance. Turkey views Armenia as a roadblock for its drive to unite the Turkic peoples of Central Asia. From the Chinese perspective, Armenia represents a safeguard against such Turkish penetration in Central Asia. Turkey has been trying to agitate and incite the Uyghur Muslim minority in China’s Xinjiang province to rise up against the central government. The Chinese authorities are fighting back, trying to put a lid on incipient imported extremism, though their methods are harsh.

Armenian activism and advocacy can play a small role in the US to yield some political dividends. But while Turkey is on the other side of the NATO balance, Armenia’s existential concerns cannot be met when push comes to shove. The West does not seem to offer a safe haven for Armenia, despite all its rhetoric.

Strategically, there is a confluence of interests between Armenia and China, in view of Turkey’s growing role in the Caucasus.