Chinese Influence Grows in Kyrgyzstan

(Translated)

Al-Rayah Newspaper - Issue 605 - 24/06/2026

By: Ustadh Harun Abdul-Haq

In light of the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, Chinese influence in Kyrgyzstan is steadily increasing. Having initially strengthened its economic influence, China is now also bolstering its political and military power. This is due to China's unprecedented share of the country's economy. Clearly, China is seeking to safeguard its economic interests in Kyrgyzstan through political and military cooperation.

One indicator of this growing influence is the size of the country’s debt. Kyrgyzstan’s public debt has reached approximately $10 billion, meaning it has doubled in the last five years. Of this debt, $1.5 billion is owed to China, representing the largest share of the country's external debt.

In 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $27.2 billion, according to Chinese customs statistics. Imports from China constitute the majority of this volume. This substantial trade volume has made China Kyrgyzstan’s leading trading partner. During the first nine months of 2025, Chinese direct investment in Kyrgyzstan reached $282.3 million, making China the top investor in the country.

It’s important to note that Chinese investments and loans come with specific conditions. For example, if China undertakes a project or invests in Kyrgyzstan, it imports all the necessary equipment from China, down to the smallest screw. In other words, not a single screw is purchased from the local market!

Furthermore, China brings its own citizens to work on the projects and investments it undertakes. Most loans from China operate on this model: the country receives a loan from China to implement a specific project, and then a Chinese company undertakes the project. The loan money goes to the Chinese company, and Chinese workers flock to the country to carry out the project.

Through its quiet and gradual approach, China has managed to gain control over key sectors of our country’s economy. Protecting these economic interests and ensuring their future development has now become one of its priorities. Naturally, this reality is driving the transformation of economic relations between Kyrgyzstan and China into a political and military framework.

The first steps of this transformation have already begun to appear. On May 19, Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong visited our country and met with the Minister of Internal Affairs. During the meeting, the two sides discussed Kyrgyz-Chinese cooperation in law enforcement.

On May 20, Wang Xiaohong met with the Chairman of the State National Security Commission, who announced the Commission’s readiness to protect the rights and interests of Chinese investors within the country.

These meetings clearly demonstrate this reality. The authorities are prepared to open all doors to China. In return, China is preparing to further increase its investments. Naturally, an influx of Chinese citizens is expected along with these investments.

It is no coincidence that the authorities have increased the quota for foreign workers allowed to work in the country from 50,000 to 100,000. On April 25, the Cabinet of Ministers issued a resolution facilitating the entry of Chinese workers into the country. As a result, it is natural that resentment in society has grown, and some conflicts have even erupted. To prevent this, and specifically to protect Chinese economic interests and Chinese workers, efforts are underway to establish cooperation between the security services of both countries.

In addition, the authorities are working to improve China's image by opening Chinese exhibitions in the country, establishing Chinese studies departments in universities, and organizing ongoing events promoting Chinese culture. At one of these events, a state envoy stated, “Kyrgyz-Chinese relations have a history spanning three thousand years.” This is indicative of an attempt to portray our people and the Chinese as brothers, despite the fact that there are absolutely no ties or commonalities between them.

Furthermore, whenever signs of public resentment towards the Chinese begin to emerge, government spokespeople rush to calm the public and contain the reactions. For example, when videos circulated claiming that “the Chinese have become too numerous” or that “the Chinese have invaded the country,” the chairman of the Presidential Information Policy Department issued a statement denouncing these videos as seditious and spreading false information.

Moreover, information regarding the national debt was previously publicly available. Now, however, only the total national debt is disclosed, without revealing the amount owed to each individual entity. Previously, the largest share of the country's external debt was owed to China. Now, under the new approach, the size of the national debt owed to China will not be disclosed to the public. This measure is intended to prevent the growth of anti-China sentiment among the population. It is also expected that the government will seek further loans from China in the future.

Therefore, the government believes that opening all opportunities for China to “develop” the country will lead to increased GDP and “progress.” However, investments and loans are, in reality, one of the mechanisms used by colonialist powers to plunder the wealth of other countries, drain their capital, and expand their influence.

Additionally, cooperation with China opens the door to an increasing influx of Chinese people into the country. Yet, the authorities are deceived by this supposed "progress," pushing the country's future toward a dead end.

As the state envoy stated, “Kyrgyz-Chinese relations have a three-thousand-year history.” Indeed, our ancestors knew how to deal with China, which is why China has been unable to conquer our land to this day. If we follow in their footsteps and heed their warnings, we will be able to deal with China with extreme caution and prevent the expansion of its influence.

Here, we recall the words of the folk poet Kaligulbayulu, “He creeps slowly into your embrace, then places his noose around your neck. Do not be deceived, my people, do not be deceived by China’s cunning and trickery.”

Therefore, the authorities must listen to the voice of the people and cease the policies that are leading the country to become beholden to and dependent on China.