Central Asia's international status has been ruthlessly elevated by China and Japan.

Kazakhstan doesn't even mention 🥹 treating Chinese businessmen like lambs. Kyrgyzstan is even more ruthless—a dictator whose political partner, the security minister, shot and killed the former largest property owner in the street. Recently, visas for Chinese nationals have been suspended for three months, reportedly related to two Chinese men and a local pregnant woman who jumped from a building.

Japan's involvement in Central Asia is indeed a bit strange, and Russia has indeed become weaker.