Routledge China-Türkiye Relations: Unravelling the Puzzle (Changing Dynamics in Asia-Middle East Relations)

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of post-2002 political, economic and military relations between China and Turkey. It argues that while bilateral relations have expanded, the interactions have been inconsistent and largely driven by developmental imperatives rather than strategic decision-making. Using primary sources, including interviews with government officials and experts, alongside international relations theory, the author analyses the motives and actions of both nations to demonstrate how China and Turkey pursue their interests through overlapping yet misaligned connectivity initiatives that limit the depth of their partnership. The structural constraints tied to issues such as the Uyghur question and NATO alignment form a constant backdrop. These constraints become salient when political or economic triggers intervene so that what appears to be oscillation between convergence and divergence is better understood as compartmentalised engagement rather than a broader strategic realignment. This volume will appeal to scholars and students in the fields of international relations, global security and economic relations, as well as those specialising in China studies, alliance behaviours, middle power balancing and Asian and Middle Eastern studies. It will also be a useful resource for researchers interested in the geopolitical dynamics of the region and the broader implications of these relations on global politics.