Is Kazakhstan slipping into the anti-Chinese wave?
On September 2, Kazakh President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev at a joint meeting of the chambers of parliament delivered a message to the people. Tokaev presented the society with a specific program for modernizing the economy of the republic, strengthening state institutions, improving social welfare of the population, protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens.
In his Address, the head of Kazakhstan answered many questions of concern to people. He promised, for example, from January 1 of January 2020 to launch a system of compulsory social health insurance, and to introduce a guaranteed social package for children from low-income families. President Tokayev emphasized the land theme that excites the population and stated that "our land will not be sold to foreigners, we will not allow this, speculation must be stopped on this issue."
Nevertheless, already on 2 of September, in the city of Zhanaozen of the Mangistau region, about a hundred citizens came to the building of the local city hall with a protest against the intergovernmental decision of Kazakhstan and China to build 55 plants in the agricultural sector, industry, construction industry, oil and gas sector and energy. The protesters demanded that Tokayev cancel the visit to China scheduled for September 11-12, during which this investment project should be finally agreed.
The next day, the number of protesters in Zhanaozen reached five hundred people. They were supported by residents of other large cities of Kazakhstan, including the capital, Almaty and Nur-Sultan. The authorities hastened to disavow the message on the construction of factories on joint projects with the Chinese 55 projects. Called this news "Rumors." Then they reluctantly admitted that in the framework agreement on strengthening cooperation in the field of industrialization and investment between the government of Kazakhstan and China, there really are 55 Kazakh-Chinese joint projects worth $ 27 billion. However, not all of them will be implemented in Kazakhstan, but, most importantly, among the proposed projects there are no “old and environmentally hazardous industries” that protesters are talking about.
Meanwhile, not this issue mentioned in the list of requirements brought people to rallies. The start of the current protests was laid by 42-year-old activist Askar Kairbek, who went out on August 18 to a single picket in Nur-Sultan. On his poster, Kairbek wrote “55 factories, return to China” and explained to reporters that “citizens of the republic will soon have to engage in slave labor in Chinese factories.”
But this topic is very close to the residents of Zhanaozen. They well remember the tragedy of 2011 of the year when people died during the riot suppression police operation. (The authorities counted 16 victims, the opposition - 150). The reason for the protests was a labor conflict in subsidiaries of the state oil and gas company KazMunayGas, located in the south-west of Kazakhstan in the Mangistau region (Karazhanbasmunai and Ozenmunaygaz).
Workers dissatisfied with the “optimization of enterprise costs” carried out demanded the restoration of industry and regional wage ratios. Economic demands gradually grew into political ones. Protesters recalled that “cost optimization” was carried out by Chinese managers who took key positions in a Kazakhstani state-owned company. Due to this, incomes of not only the parent company, but also of Chinese firms participating in oil and gas projects have grown. Only ordinary oilmen were the losers.
That conflict was repaid in an Eastern way, hard and bloody. But its root cause has not disappeared, and even acquired new forms. Experts note that now Beijing is implementing its joint projects with Nur-Sultan, loading its own companies as much as possible with orders, and even bringing Chinese workers to Kazakhstan.
China is not alone in this. Similar practice is used by other foreign investors, for example, Turkish. In the Kazakh media periodically there are reports of conflicts between local workers and visitors. Sometimes it comes to heavy brawls, as it was this summer in the village of Zhairem, Karaganda region, where six Turkish citizens suffered, who later needed medical help.
The reason for the fight in Jairem was that Turkish workers were paid much more than the local workers at the factory under construction in the village. In Chinese companies, this is a standard approach. Hence the growth of anti-Chinese sentiment in Kazakhstan. Zhang Xiao, the Chinese ambassador to Nur-Sultan, reacted to them in his own way.
Zhang did not comment on the discrimination of Kazakhstanis in Chinese enterprises, but hit into geopolitics. The ambassador explained the anti-Chinese rallies in Kazakhstan by the influence of "some external forces." He drew attention to the fact that the protests took place “right on the eve of the most important visit, which is currently being prepared in full swing by both countries. Therefore, I can easily say that such actions are directed precisely against this important event in bilateral relations. It’s supposed that behind these meeting speakers there are some forces that contributed, pushed, trying to kindle, to put it mildly, the negative negative mood of the population against China and against the development of our bilateral relations. ”
Zhang called these "powers" without any hint. “I want to draw your attention to one point: according to official information, China has not even entered the top three countries that have invested in the Kazakh economy,” said Zhang Xiao in Nur-Sultan on 4 on September. “... Actually, the world oil and gas giant is working on the Kazakhstani market, which came here earlier than anyone, who has snatched the most during this time, and which to this day enjoys all sorts of preferences that others don't have.”
The words of the ambassador directly lead us to the American corporation Chevron. She works at the Tengiz field and leads the country in oil production. Now, the Chinese, due to a large-scale investment project, will try to get around the Americans in Kazakhstan (the United States has invested $ 37 billion in the republic, China - 17) and, using the vocabulary of Ambassador Zhang, "snatch the most."
It's funny that in response to the protests, local authorities swear by the protesters that the unfortunate Chinese factories would not be built on their territory, but the rallies in the republic did not stop. So, the matter is not only in the machinations of the American Chevron. Experts see in the current protests the struggle of local clans escalated during the “transit of power”.
“Unexpected anti-Chinese rallies are most likely the result of inter-clan confrontation and“ hello ”to Tokaev on his rather tough political part of the message,” well-known Kazakhstan economist Olzhas Khudaibergenov told EADaily. - The process of cooperation with the Chinese did not start Tokaev, it lasts at least 3-4 of the year, and here you have rallies. In general, it is felt that the struggle for power is escalating, and the use of public discontent risks undermining the country. ”
Kasym-Zhomart Tokaev in his Message actually threw firewood into the smoldering hotbed of inter-clan contradictions. The President announced that in the near future the number of civil servants will be reduced by 20%, and the released funds will be used to increase the salary of those remaining in the corridors of the Kazakh government. The expected “purge” seriously excited politicians who were hoping to find their niche in the “transit of power” that had begun. Sensing a threat to their interests, they decided to push Tokaev through public protests.
This point of view of Kazakhstani experts is worthy of attention. However, the root cause of the current rallies is still the impudence of foreign investors, who have little regard for the interests of the local population. Kazakhstan has become accustomed to this and now understands well: the construction of 55 new plants is by no means a charitable project. Chinese investors will try to get the most out of it. “To snatch,” as Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xiao directly said to the Kazakhstanis.
Post-Message Protest
In his Address, the head of Kazakhstan answered many questions of concern to people. He promised, for example, from January 1 of January 2020 to launch a system of compulsory social health insurance, and to introduce a guaranteed social package for children from low-income families. President Tokayev emphasized the land theme that excites the population and stated that "our land will not be sold to foreigners, we will not allow this, speculation must be stopped on this issue."
Nevertheless, already on 2 of September, in the city of Zhanaozen of the Mangistau region, about a hundred citizens came to the building of the local city hall with a protest against the intergovernmental decision of Kazakhstan and China to build 55 plants in the agricultural sector, industry, construction industry, oil and gas sector and energy. The protesters demanded that Tokayev cancel the visit to China scheduled for September 11-12, during which this investment project should be finally agreed.
The next day, the number of protesters in Zhanaozen reached five hundred people. They were supported by residents of other large cities of Kazakhstan, including the capital, Almaty and Nur-Sultan. The authorities hastened to disavow the message on the construction of factories on joint projects with the Chinese 55 projects. Called this news "Rumors." Then they reluctantly admitted that in the framework agreement on strengthening cooperation in the field of industrialization and investment between the government of Kazakhstan and China, there really are 55 Kazakh-Chinese joint projects worth $ 27 billion. However, not all of them will be implemented in Kazakhstan, but, most importantly, among the proposed projects there are no “old and environmentally hazardous industries” that protesters are talking about.
Meanwhile, not this issue mentioned in the list of requirements brought people to rallies. The start of the current protests was laid by 42-year-old activist Askar Kairbek, who went out on August 18 to a single picket in Nur-Sultan. On his poster, Kairbek wrote “55 factories, return to China” and explained to reporters that “citizens of the republic will soon have to engage in slave labor in Chinese factories.”
Zhanaozen reminded of himself
But this topic is very close to the residents of Zhanaozen. They well remember the tragedy of 2011 of the year when people died during the riot suppression police operation. (The authorities counted 16 victims, the opposition - 150). The reason for the protests was a labor conflict in subsidiaries of the state oil and gas company KazMunayGas, located in the south-west of Kazakhstan in the Mangistau region (Karazhanbasmunai and Ozenmunaygaz).
Workers dissatisfied with the “optimization of enterprise costs” carried out demanded the restoration of industry and regional wage ratios. Economic demands gradually grew into political ones. Protesters recalled that “cost optimization” was carried out by Chinese managers who took key positions in a Kazakhstani state-owned company. Due to this, incomes of not only the parent company, but also of Chinese firms participating in oil and gas projects have grown. Only ordinary oilmen were the losers.
That conflict was repaid in an Eastern way, hard and bloody. But its root cause has not disappeared, and even acquired new forms. Experts note that now Beijing is implementing its joint projects with Nur-Sultan, loading its own companies as much as possible with orders, and even bringing Chinese workers to Kazakhstan.
What are Kazakhstanis unhappy with?
China is not alone in this. Similar practice is used by other foreign investors, for example, Turkish. In the Kazakh media periodically there are reports of conflicts between local workers and visitors. Sometimes it comes to heavy brawls, as it was this summer in the village of Zhairem, Karaganda region, where six Turkish citizens suffered, who later needed medical help.
The reason for the fight in Jairem was that Turkish workers were paid much more than the local workers at the factory under construction in the village. In Chinese companies, this is a standard approach. Hence the growth of anti-Chinese sentiment in Kazakhstan. Zhang Xiao, the Chinese ambassador to Nur-Sultan, reacted to them in his own way.
Zhang did not comment on the discrimination of Kazakhstanis in Chinese enterprises, but hit into geopolitics. The ambassador explained the anti-Chinese rallies in Kazakhstan by the influence of "some external forces." He drew attention to the fact that the protests took place “right on the eve of the most important visit, which is currently being prepared in full swing by both countries. Therefore, I can easily say that such actions are directed precisely against this important event in bilateral relations. It’s supposed that behind these meeting speakers there are some forces that contributed, pushed, trying to kindle, to put it mildly, the negative negative mood of the population against China and against the development of our bilateral relations. ”
Zhang called these "powers" without any hint. “I want to draw your attention to one point: according to official information, China has not even entered the top three countries that have invested in the Kazakh economy,” said Zhang Xiao in Nur-Sultan on 4 on September. “... Actually, the world oil and gas giant is working on the Kazakhstani market, which came here earlier than anyone, who has snatched the most during this time, and which to this day enjoys all sorts of preferences that others don't have.”
The words of the ambassador directly lead us to the American corporation Chevron. She works at the Tengiz field and leads the country in oil production. Now, the Chinese, due to a large-scale investment project, will try to get around the Americans in Kazakhstan (the United States has invested $ 37 billion in the republic, China - 17) and, using the vocabulary of Ambassador Zhang, "snatch the most."
This difficult "transit of power"
It's funny that in response to the protests, local authorities swear by the protesters that the unfortunate Chinese factories would not be built on their territory, but the rallies in the republic did not stop. So, the matter is not only in the machinations of the American Chevron. Experts see in the current protests the struggle of local clans escalated during the “transit of power”.
“Unexpected anti-Chinese rallies are most likely the result of inter-clan confrontation and“ hello ”to Tokaev on his rather tough political part of the message,” well-known Kazakhstan economist Olzhas Khudaibergenov told EADaily. - The process of cooperation with the Chinese did not start Tokaev, it lasts at least 3-4 of the year, and here you have rallies. In general, it is felt that the struggle for power is escalating, and the use of public discontent risks undermining the country. ”
Kasym-Zhomart Tokaev in his Message actually threw firewood into the smoldering hotbed of inter-clan contradictions. The President announced that in the near future the number of civil servants will be reduced by 20%, and the released funds will be used to increase the salary of those remaining in the corridors of the Kazakh government. The expected “purge” seriously excited politicians who were hoping to find their niche in the “transit of power” that had begun. Sensing a threat to their interests, they decided to push Tokaev through public protests.
This point of view of Kazakhstani experts is worthy of attention. However, the root cause of the current rallies is still the impudence of foreign investors, who have little regard for the interests of the local population. Kazakhstan has become accustomed to this and now understands well: the construction of 55 new plants is by no means a charitable project. Chinese investors will try to get the most out of it. “To snatch,” as Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xiao directly said to the Kazakhstanis.
Information