유라시아의 비서구 지역통합 프로젝트: 유라시아경제연합(EAEU)과 일대일로(BRI)

초록

The purpose of this paper is to compare and analyze the EAEU and BRI, a representative non-Western regional integration project in Eurasia, to identify potentials and obstacles to competition, cooperation, and ‘connectivity’ of these two regional integration projects. Although the EAEU and BRI initiatives, regional integration projects in Russia and China, focus on the economy, but there are significant differences between the two projects. Russia is interested in creating exclusive influence in post-Soviet space, and its goal is to strengthen Russia's position in the world power. Achieving a political advantage at the local level is a key driver of the Russian project. In contrast, China focuses on visible economic performance. China has adopted a functionalist logic to form influence. China’s policy seems to be to open toward markets for trade and investment, thereby bypassing other economic integration projects in the region. Russia and China appear to be aware of the possible tensions between the two countries and have taken steps to reduce the risks. Although Russia is not in a position to prevent China’s partnership with Central Asia, China’s focusing on economic goals, coupled with limited political aims, helps avoid direct conflicts and straightforward competition between the two countries. China has not attempted political domination of the region despite its close economic ties with Central Asia. China has framed the project so that it does not cause backlash from Russia, making Central Asia a part of the transit corridor leading to Europe. EAEU does not provide any explicit concessions to China, although the trade barriers between the EAEU member countries can be removed to facilitate trade between the post-Soviet region and China. Moreover, the Russian position that focuses on the symbolic impact of the EAEU project has a room for reconciliation with China’s economy-focused approach.

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