China rallies Central Asian police chiefs on terrorism threats, energy and trade

China's highest-ranking police official pledged enhanced collaboration with his Central Asian counterparts to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism, while bolstering safeguards for Belt and Road Initiative investments. At a gathering of China-Central Asia Public Security and Interior Ministers' mechanism in Beijing, Wang Xiaohong, China's Public Security Minister, urged his colleagues from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to collectively tackle the "three evil forces".

This term, frequently used in Beijing's security doctrine and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) framework, encompasses terrorism, separatism, and extremism, often linked to Xinjiang's terrorist attacks. The security talks followed the SCO summit, where Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized security as a key goal and called for the SCO to create an environment of shared security.

Central Asian energy and transport routes are crucial to China's economy and strategic interests, prompting Beijing to prioritize intelligence sharing, joint law enforcement training, and infrastructure defense to maintain stability on its western border and beyond. Wang called for the ministerial mechanism to serve as a model for regional security governance in his meeting with Central Asian counterparts.

He emphasized that China sought increased practical cooperation in areas such as transnational crime, immigration management, protecting overseas investments, enhancing law enforcement capacity, and securing Belt and Road projects. Central Asian delegates endorsed the mechanism, pledging to implement its outcomes and fortify security ties for improved regional stability and economic growth.

During the meeting, officials unveiled the newly formed China-Central Asia Law Enforcement Training Base, aimed at enhancing joint operational and technical capabilities. Wang also presented the "Golden Great Wall Commemorative Medal" to Kazakh Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov and Uzbek Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulatov, symbolizing China's recognition of their contributions to bilateral security ties.

On the sidelines, Wang spoke with Kyrgyz Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov and Kazakh counterpart Sadenov, stressing the importance of political security, port-of-entry order, and joint counterterrorism efforts. Niyazbekov expressed support for China's initiative to establish an international alliance against telecoms and network fraud, while Wang and Sadenov signed new bilateral cooperation agreements.