As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if funds are poorly deployed. At the same time, however, the IDR also underlines the long-realised reality that debt can underpin long-term growth when channelled into productive infrastructure. China to this end has positioned itself as the principal provider of that capital across much of Central Asia. [...]