Xi's Central Asia Power Play Snubs Putin

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called a meeting of former-Soviet Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, in an audacious power play in Russia's backyard the week of his summit with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. The move came as Xi was visiting Putin in Moscow as part of a 3-day-summit which concluded Wednesday, in which the nations pledged to deepen and extend their cooperation, and Xi signaled continued Chinese backing for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Analysts say that China has secured significant leverage over Russia in return for its diplomatic and economic support, and that in calling the meeting of Central Asian nations it is seeking to exploit that advantage.