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The increasing global warming trend has resulted in the mass loss of most glaciers. The Urumqi Vally, located in the dry and cold zone of China, and its widely dispersed glaciers are significant to the regional ecological environment, oasis economic development, and industrial and agricultural production. This is representative of glaciers in Middle Asia and represents one of the world's longest observed time series of glaciers, beginning in 1959. The Urumqi Headwater Glacier No. 1 (UHG-1) has a dominant presence in the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). This paper supplies a comprehensive analysis of past studies and future modeling of glacier changes in the Urumqi Valley. It has received insufficient attention in the past, and the mass balance of UHG-1 was used to verify that the geodetic results and the OGGM model simulation results are convincing. The main conclusions are: The area of 48.68 ± 4.59 km2 delineated by 150 glaciers in 1958 decreased to 21.61 ± 0.27 km2 delineated by 108 glaciers in 2022, with a reduction of 0.47 ± 0.04 km2·a−1 (0.96% a−1 in 1958–2022). The glacier mass balance by geodesy is −0.69 ± 0.11 m w.e.a−1 in 2000–2022, which is just deviating from the measured result (−0.66 m w.e.a−1), but the geodetic result in this paper can be enough to reflect the glacier changes (−0.65 ± 0.11 m w.e.a−1) of the URB in 2000–2022. The future loss rate of area and volume will undergo a rapid and then decelerating process, with the fastest and slowest inflection points occurring around 2035 and 2070, respectively. High temperatures and large precipitation in summer accelerate glacier loss, and the corresponding lag period of glacier change to climate is about 2–3 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparison of Sogdian images in China and Central Asia has become a hot topic in academic circles in recent years. However, there is no specific comparison of Sogdian images on burial utensils in the existing studies. Accordingly, the author proposes to compare the images on burial utensils by collecting together the remaining materials as much as possible and making corresponding data tables. First and foremost, this paper focuses on the actual quantity of the remains and gives a table, "Statistics of the Sogdian Burial Utensils with Images", to show this quantity for the first time: there are 30 remains of Sogdian burial utensils in China (26 sarcophagi and four ossuaries) and 23 Sogdian burial utensils in Central Asia (all are ossuaries). Secondly, there are several tables based on remaining materials in this paper, including "Distribution of the Shapes of Sogdian Sarcophagi in China", "Historical Period and Shape of Sogdian Ossuaries in Central Asia", "Religious Images Table of Sogdian Sarcophagi in China", "Table of Religious Image Types of the Sogdian Ossuaries in Central Asia" and "Common Religious Images of the Burial Utensils in China and Central Asia". Thirdly, further analysis shows that there are two image systems. Grounded in the above analysis, this paper comes to conclusions at three levels. Firstly, there are two shapes of burial utensils. Sarcophagi are widely seen in China whilst ossuaries are commonly discovered in Central Asia. As a result, the images on the sarcophagi in China are large in size and wide in narrative themes, whereas those on the ossuaries in Central Asia are small in size, emphasizing important content and narrative themes. All are rich in image representation. Secondly, there are three types of religious images on the burial utensils. The comparison results of image types show the common images in three categories: gods, funeral ceremonies and sacred fire sacrifice. Thirdly, the images on burial utensils have different characteristics regarding religious transmission. Zoroastrianism is dominant in Central Asia, while Zoroastrianism, Chinese mythology and Buddhist images are primary in China and images of tomb owners embodying secularity are also widespread in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The name "flax" is commonly used in various historical records of ancient China, and there have been continuous debates about the specific meaning of "flax". The "flax theorists" believe that due to climate characteristics, sesame cannot be introduced and cultivated in the northwest region of China, so "flax" inevitably refers to flax with better cold resistance. This paper maintains that the term "flax" in historical literature refers to sesame rather than flax. Meanwhile, archaeological achievements in the northwest region of China indicate that sesame may have spread to Xinjiang, China through Central Asia during the pre-Qin period, and have been active in the social and economic life of the northwest region for a long time since then. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing the tectonic architecture of the southern Altaids is of great importance to piece together the continental growth history of the Central Asian continent. In this paper, we address the subduction‐accretion process of the Paleo‐Tianshan Ocean, one branch of the South Tianshan Ocean, in the southern Altaids, through a detailed geological and geochemical investigation of the Wulanmoren Accretionary Complex (WAC). The WAC is composed of ophiolitic mélanges, ocean plate stratigraphy mélanges, and turbiditic coherent units. In this study, we present key geological, petrological, and geochemical evidence indicating back‐arc and ocean island affinity of the igneous rocks of the WAC. Zircon U‐Pb dates of these rocks ages range between 380.2 ± 1.3 and 302.0 ± 5.3 Ma. The sedimentary matrix units of the mélanges were deposited in the Early Devonian (∼405 Ma) to the Late Triassic (∼222 Ma), rather than Silurian strata as previously thought. However, the ages of some detrital zircons in the sedimentary matrix are Precambrian, pointing to a complex evolution involving multiple ocean island terrains and island arcs of different ages that accreted from the mid‐Paleozoic to the Early Mesozoic. Plain Language Summary: Well‐exposed rock outcrops of the Wulanmoren Accretionary Complex (WAC) offer an ideal opportunity to solve the enigma of the evolutionary history of the Paleo‐Tianshan Ocean (PTO) of Central Asia. We report field observations, geochemistry, and geochronology of the WAC in the southern Altaids, pointing to multiple tectonic settings of ages spanning from the Early Devonian (∼405 Ma) to the Late Triassic (∼222 Ma). These reconstructions suggest closure time of the PTO occurred post‐Triassic. Based on detrital zircons provenance analysis, we propose a multi‐island ocean model to explain the tectonic evolution of the PTO in the time period studied. Key Points: The Wulanmoren Accretionary Complex was composed of ophiolitic mélanges, ocean plate stratigraphy mélanges, and coherent unitsThe Late Paleozoic MORB‐like and OIB‐type basalts, and ∼222 Ma coherent units indicate closure of the Paleo‐Tianshan Ocean occurred post‐TriassicThe southern Paleo‐Asian Ocean was an archipelago with several subduction systems which is similar to the modern southwest Pacific [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) intersect and overlap in Central Asia at the heart of Eurasia. Whereas the literature has commonly focused on the economic aspects of these major regional policy initiatives, efforts to create a common Eurasian higher education space through these regionalisms have barely been studied. In response, this paper compares the development of Russian and Chinese led visions for Eurasian higher education regionalism in Central Asia and the extent to which these constructions overlap. The paper also sheds lights on the perspectives of Central Asian states by investigating how these countries are approaching these efforts to construct a Eurasian higher education region. The conceptual framework brings together higher education regionalism with overlapping regionalism and takes a policy-oriented methodological approach. The paper introduces the new term of "points of correspondence" based on language used in both Russian and Chinese policy discourse to explain how constructions of a Eurasian higher education region can overlap without duplicating or flowing into each other. "Points of correspondence" emphasizes neither competition nor collaboration but rather the ongoing pursuit to find ideas and policy tools that best fit one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a bridge and link between China and Central Asian countries, logistics infrastructure plays an important role in the process of forming a new development pattern of "dual circulation" and mutual promotion. Based on the panel data of Central Asian countries from 2010 to 2019, this paper uses random effect model to analyze the impact on the cross-border agricultural product supply chain between China and Central Asian countries. The results show that the logistics development level, railway transport connectivity, road transport connectivity, economic development level, market size, and common border of Central Asian countries positively affect the development level of the supply chain at different significance levels. Among them, the degree of railway transport connectivity has the greatest impact on the supply chain, followed by the common border, and then the level of logistics development. Moreover, the geographical advantage cannot be underestimated and it plays a positive role in promoting the high-quality development of cross-border agricultural product supply chain. China borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and the agricultural product import and export trade quota is significantly greater than that of other Central Asian countries. Based on the analysis, we propose to strengthen efforts to build a high-quality logistics system, build an efficient land transport network, and break through cross-border logistics congestion and difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The People's Republic of China has been actively promoting its governance styles abroad. In Central Asia, these programs have increased rapidly both in terms of their frequency and scope. This paper documents 59 in-China training programs for Central Asian officials from 2007 to 2020, the majority of which concerned security management and involved Chinese technology and equipment transfers. It is evident that Central Asian governments are adopting surveillance practices that are based on Chinese security ideology. As Central Asian states absorb these governance models, a new set of security and human rights issues is emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the pioneer palaeontologists, Professor Zhuoting Liao has contributed his lifetime to promoting palaeontological and stratigraphical research in China for 60 years, and he passed away in the field excursion in South China on June 20, 2020. In his palaeontological career, Liao has worked on Late Palaeozoic to Mesozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of almost all regions across China, and his interests have also extended to the Permian–Triassic (P‐Tr) boundary and mass extinction. He has worked on palaeontology, palaeobiogeography, biostratigraphy, tectonostratigraphy, and their implications in mineral and oil‐gas industries. Liao has established 22 new genera and 172 new species of brachiopods, and, together with his colleagues, proposed 11 new genera and 25 new species of echinoderms. He dedicated his lifetime to work on Late Palaeozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of the previously remote and tectonically complex Xinjiang and adjacent regions, north‐west China, and established integrated stratigraphical frameworks for the Carboniferous to Permian strata, providing fundamental basis for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration in the poorly understood Central Asian terranes. In addition, he has mentored many young palaeontologists and stratigraphers in various ways. This volume assembles 30 papers addressing the Late Palaeozoic to Mesozoic palaeontology and stratigraphy of China and adjacent regions, which pays tribute to the achievement of Professor Zhuoting Liao. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orogenic architecture of the Altaids of Central Asia was created by multiple largescale slab roll-back and oroclinal bending. However, no regional structural deformation related to roll-back processes has been described. In this paper, we report a structural study of the Beishan orogenic collage in the southernmost Altaids, which is located in the southern wing of the Tuva-Mongol Orocline. Our new field mapping and structural analysis integrated with an electron backscatter diffraction study, paleontology, U-Pb dating, 39Ar-40Ar dating, together with published isotopic ages enables us to construct a detailed deformation-time sequence: During D1 times many thrusts were propagated northwards. In D2 there was ductile sinistral shearing at 336-326 Ma. In D3 times there was top-to-W/WNW ductile thrusting at 303-289 Ma. Two phases of folding were defined as D4 and D5. Three stages of extensional events (E1-E3) separately occurred during D1-D5. Two switches of the regional stress field were identified in the Carboniferous to Early Permian (D1-E1-D2-D3-E2) and Late Permian to Early Triassic (D4-E3-D5). These two switches in the stress field were associated with formation of bimodal volcanic rocks, and an extensional interarc basin with deposition of Permian-Triassic sediments, which can be related to two stages of roll-back of the subduction zone on the Paleo-Asian oceanic margin. We demonstrate for the first time that two key stress field switches were responses to the formation of the Tuva-Mongol Orocline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial sequence stratigraphy in proximal terrestrial environments is different from its counterpart in distal terrestrial and marine environments. The Southern Junggar Basin in NW China has preserved well‐exposed proximal terrestrial outcrops and its Jurassic–Cretaceous sequence boundary remains contentious. The goal of this paper is to (a) establish a model of allogenic‐controlling mechanisms of a proximal terrestrial sequence, (b) investigate the Jurassic–Cretaceous sequence boundary, (c) the Jurassic climate, and (d) tectonic movements in Central Asia. The sequence stratigraphic framework was established assisted by the determination of the accommodation space/sediment supply (A/S) ratio, including two second‐order sequences (SS) and six third‐order sequences (SQ) in the Jurassic, as well as a second‐order sequence in the Cretaceous. SS1 was mainly controlled by a warm and humid climate and lake level fluctuations in a weak extensional tectonic setting; SS2 was mainly controlled by an arid climate and compressional tectonic movements; SS3 was mainly controlled by a semi‐humid climate and lake transgression in a stable tectonic setting. Additionally, the Jurassic–Cretaceous sequence boundary was distinguished within the Kalazha Formation based on its sedimentary characteristics, sedimentary evolution, and different allogenic controls. It is concluded that the proximal terrestrial sequences exhibit rapid sedimentary facies change, thick coarse‐grained sediments, and multiple provenances. Climate, tectonic movements, and lake level fluctuation dominate in different stages of basin evolution. Moreover, the sediment supply is more emphasized, and the accommodation space/sediment supply ratio, which corresponds to different channel geometry types, plays a critical role in identifying system tracts and sequence stratigraphic surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the dissolution of Soviet Union, the US and its Western allies have dominated the global affairs through numerous political and economic organizations. In the same token China and Russia have established close ties after the termination of Cold War to attain regional security so that to minimize the US penetration in the Central Asian region. In this article, the area of Central Asia has been taken as a case study to demonstrate the China-Russia partnership through a multilateral organization; specifically the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This article discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the Soft Balancing in the SCO. It further elaborates the Sino-Russian cooperation through SCO in terms of balancing the US preponderance. This paper evaluates historical competition among Great Powers in Central Asian region, and further elaborates on the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization1. While this article argues that the main focus of SCO was strengthening regional security issues, fight against terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. However it also aimed to counter the US influence in the region through multilateral organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the largest Phanerozoic orogens in the world, the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is a natural laboratory for studies of continental dynamics and metallogenesis. This paper summarizes the research progresses of the accretionary processes and metallogenesis of the CAOB since the People's Republic of China was founded, and puts forward the prospect for future research. During the early period (1950s–1970s), several geological theories were applied to explain the geological evolution of Central Asia. In the early period of China's reform and opening-up, the plate tectonics theory was applied to explain the evolution of the northern Xinjiang and Xingmeng regions, and the opinion of subduction-collision between Siberian, Kazakhstan, and China-North Korea-Tarim plates was proposed. The idea of the Solonker-Yanbian suture zone was established. In the 1990s, the study of the CAOB entered a period of rapid development. One school of scholars including geologists from the former Soviet Union proposed a multi-block collision model for the assemblage of the CAOB. In contrast, another school of scholars, led by a Turkish geologist, Celal Şengör, proposed that the Altaids was formed through the growth and strike-slip duplicates of a single island arc, and pointed out that the Altaids is a special type of collisional orogen. During this period, Chinese geologists carried out a lot of pioneering researches on ophiolites and high-pressure metamorphic rocks in northern China, and confirmed the main suture zones accordingly. In 1999, the concept of "Central Asian metallogenic domain" was proposed, and it became one of the three major metallogenic domains in the world. Since the 21st century, given the importance for understanding continental accretion and metallogenic mechanism, the CAOB has become the international academic forefront. China has laid out a series of scientific research projects in Central Asia. A large number of important scientific research achievements have been spawned, including the tectonic attribution of micro-continents, timing and tectonic settings of ophiolites, magmatic arcs, identification and anatomy of accretionary wedges, regional metamorphism-deformation, (ultra)high-pressure metamorphism, ridge subduction, plume-plate interaction, archipelagic paleogeography and spatio-temporal framework of multiple accretionary orogeny, continental growth, accretionary metallogenesis, structural superposition and transformation, etc. These achievements have made important international influences. There still exist the following aspects that need further study: (1) Early evolution history and subduction initiation of the Paleo-Asian Ocean; (2) The accretionary mechanism of the extroversion Paleo-Asian Ocean; (3) The properties of the mantle of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and their spatiotemporal distribution; (4) The interaction between the Paleo-Asian Ocean and the Tethys Ocean; (5) Phanerozoic continental growth mechanism and its global comparison; (6) Accretionary metallogenic mechanism of the Central Asian metallogenic domain; and (7) Continental transformation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this Research paper is to explore the China's relations with Central Asian region and to study its embodied effects on Pakistan. Objectives of the Study: To investigate the strategic depth of China Central Asian relations in the changing paradigm of regional and international politics. To analyze the Pakistan relations with Central Asia and to provide options for CARs to grapple the economic advantages of this regional connectivity of Kashgar to Gwadar through Pakistan China Economic Corridor. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research has been carried out using various techniques; documents based on content analysis, and case studies. Historical, descriptive, comparative and analytical method have been taken into practice on all Qualitative and Quantitative data sources which includes Govt. publications, organizational reports, thesis, academic papers, published, printed sources, Newspapers, Books, Journals, Periodicals, electronic sources and ejournal etc. to acquire the optimal results and conclusions. Research Limitation-This research enshrines only three major areas of cooperation among the triangular relations of Pakistan, China, and Central Asia. These three areas are Energy, Economy and Extremism. The regional and international challenges have also been taken into account. Theoretical Framework A theoretical framework in social science not only enhances credibility of research but also provides the substructure to the research by interpreting the relevant theories related to research objectives. According to the realist school of thought global political system is anarchic one and states are the main actors in this system. Every state peruses her national self-interest based on rationality and there is no any supranational authority to govern the states. Every state has desire of acquiring more and more power to ensure its self-preservation. Power is perpetual as well rational concept. It does not exist in vacuum but in relations with other state. China is expanding herself in terms of economic advancement and affluence not only in the region but as well on world scenario. China is very much engaged in Central Asia to magnify its strategic and economic power to preserve its interest. Regionalism is the process of integration, geographical relationship, formation of interstate coalition mutual interdependence of the states on the basis of regions. The key ingredients of regionalism are unilateralism, multilateralism and international trading system. The main idea of regionalism is to economically and politically integrate states on regional identification. The SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) is also turning itself into regionalism. Eurasia has abundant energy resources. The exploitation and transportation of these energy resources to the rest of the world has become major challenge due to the deteriorating security situation and unrest of the region. SCO is a powerful regional mechanism which can play significant role in improving security of the region. Regionalism theoretical interpretations can be glimpsed on Central Asia, East Asia and South Asia in terms of economic, energy and security integration. The Mahan, A. Thayer in his book "The influence of sea power upon history 1660-1783" has concluded that naval strategy and power is a noteworthy factor for the rise of British Empire. The determinants of sea power are economy, population, political will of government and number of coastline and harbors available for sea trade traffic. The ongoing development project of Gwadr by China has proclivity to cater not only Chinese trade through CPEC but also have capacity to provide landlocked Central Asia access to hot water port for energy exports. Originality / Value: This paper is an original research work. The analysis provided is based on facts from various national and international publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional economic integration through highways, railways, pipelines and ports (dry and sea) leads towards interdependence which in turn develops stakes for regional states in each other stability and ultimately the goals of development, peace and prosperity are achieved. This particular paper aims to discuss the prospective role of CPEC in regional and intra-regional integration and its potential to positively influence the regional peace and prosperity. The focus is on the pattern of integration's structure which the CPEC offers and which has not been adequately analyzed in the literature so far. The paper argues that CPEC offers an open model of regional integration, increases regional security through interdependence and facilitates regional and global trade in contrast to close and tight regionalism where protectionist measures are adopted for non-member or non-regional states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a common natural disaster in arid Central Asia, and the severity and frequency of drought and other hydroclimatic events are critical to the region's ecology and its residents' livelihoods. In particular, water resource management requires reliable knowledge of climatic variability and annual and centennial drought patterns. In this paper, we establish a 587-year tree ring chronology using 215 Schrenk spruce ( Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey) samples and reconstruct a spring Palmer Drought Severity Index ( PDSI) for the inner Tianshan Mountains spanning the 1645-2008 period. The reconstruction explains 40.3% of the variance during the sub-period for which we also have reliable observational data (1938-2005). Cross-validation during this common period also supports our reconstruction model. Spatial correlation analyses with gridded PDSI data show that our PDSI reconstruction reveals a strong regional drought signal for the central and western Tianshan Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With China continuing to make economic forays into Central Asia, attention has simultaneously turned to Russia's privileged position in the region. A cursory glance through many articles concerned with the 'Russia - Central Asia - China' dynamic provides a misleading impression that Beijing's strengthened ties with the countries of Central Asia are coming at the expense of Moscow's influence. This paper will show that events, conventionally characterized as breakthroughs in the 'China - Central Asia' relationship in the last four to five years, are in fact part and parcel of larger economic trends that began long before the inking of the energy and trade deals. The reality of China's growing economic influence in Central Asia is not disputed. What this paper will argue is that despite the heralded dislodging of Russia by China, Russia will continue to play a substantial role in the region through a combination of energy, culture, and military bonds that run much too deep for Beijing to sever in the short to medium term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foreign policy of a country is mostly determined by its geography. The geography compels sovereign states to cultivate relations with their neighboring countries to attain some predetermined interests. Similarly, China has created and maintained quite friendly relations with almost all Central Asian states to fulfill its ever-increasing energy needs and contain the escalating security threat being posed by the assorted terrorist, extremist, militant and separatist groups in the region. Since China is projected to overtake the US in terms of exporting energy resources by 2030, the communist state is striving hard to foster all sorts of ties with the energy-rich the Central Asian states. However, the growing Chinese closeness and affinity with the region have made the US apprehensive of the potential and ominous rise of China which could well dwarf and outclass the US in the regional. Therefore, it has led the US to craft strategies aimed at challenging and obstructing the increasing Chinese engagement with the region. Thus, it has instigated a kind of competition and low-intensity rivalry between the US and China in the region. Such a cut-throat completion would create marvelous opportunities and mounting issues for the regional countries. The article analysis China's economic and defence relations with all the Central Asian countries. It also discusses the escalating Chinese interests and the region's importance for China. In the end, the paper throws light on the impending competition and rivalry between China and the US in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resumption of trade across the Sino–Central Asian border in 1983 accompanied a gradual thaw in relations between China and the Soviet Union. This paper argues that: (1) Economic liberalization in China (alongside the Soviet Union) created a climate encouraging cross-border exchange. (2) Starting in 1983, improving relations between China and the Soviet Union permitted cross-border exchange in Central Asia; over the subsequent decade, trade volume served as a marker of bilateral relations. (3) Beginning in 1990, efforts by the Chinese leadership to accelerate reform in North-West China, coupled with the independence of Central Asian republics, led to a rapid increase in trade. Hence, the resumption of Sino–Central Asian trade was not grounded in meta-geographical projections – Silk Road, New Silk Road, Silk Road Economic Belt, Eurasian Continental Bridge – but determined by political and economic transitions in the two countries, accompanied by normalizing bilateral relations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the relationship between seismogenic thickness, lithosphere structure and rheology in central and northeastern Asia. We accurately determine earthquake depth distributions which reveal important rheological variations in the lower crust. These variations exert a fundamental control on the active tectonics and the morphological evolution of the continents. We consider 323 earthquakes across the Tibetan Plateau, the Tien Shan and their forelands as well as the Baikal Rift, NE Siberia and the Laptev Sea and present the source parameters of 94 of these here for the first time. These parameters have been determined through body wave inversion, the identification of depth phases or the modelling of regional waveforms. Lower crustal earthquakes are found to be restricted to the forelands in areas undergoing shortening, and to locations where rifting coincides with abrupt changes in lithosphere thickness, such as the NE Baikal Rift and W Laptev Sea. The lower crust in these areas is seismogenic at temperatures that may be as high as 600°C, suggesting that it is anhydrous, and is likely to have great long-term strength. Lower crustal earthquakes are therefore a useful proxy indicating strong lithosphere in places that are too small in areal extent for this to be confirmed independently by estimating effective elastic thickness from gravity-topography relations. The variation in crustal rheology indicated by the distribution of lower-crustal earthquakes has many implications ranging from the support of mountain belts and the formation of steep mountain fronts, to the localization and orientation of rifting. In combination, these processes can also be responsible for the separation of the front of the thin-skinned mountain belts from their hinterlands when continents separate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will examine the development of United States (U.S.), Chinese and Russian presence in Central Asia since the 1990s and the Central Asian states' response to their actions. Also, it will discuss whether the Central Asian states joined the The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) merely to appease their powerful neighbors China and Russia or whether these small states have had an impact on the SCO, its agenda and direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Chinese Altai orogen is a typical domain of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and in previous syntheses was divided into six tectonic units (or terranes). In this paper, 41 new and 36 published whole-rock Nd and Sr isotopic data for granitoid intrusions and mafic dykes within units 2 and 3 of the central Altai and units 4 to 6 of the southern Altai were used for isotopic mapping. The age of the samples used is known from U–Pb zircon dating. ε Nd(t) values range from −4 to +2 in the central Altai units 2 and 3, and from +1.4 to +6 in the southern Altai units 4 and 5 and up to +8.4 in unit 6. Correspondingly, Nd model ages (T DM) decrease from 1.6–1.1 Ga in the central Altai to 1.0–0.5 Ga in the southern Altai, except for a continental fragment in unit 4. I Sr is elevated in the central units, decreasing to <0.705 in the southern units 5 and 6. These results demonstrate that the central Altai contains widespread old crustal components in its basement, whereas the southern Altai comprises a higher proportion of juvenile crust. When integrated with published U–Pb zircon ages, our data show that new crust grew southwards in the Chinese Altai. In addition, our data suggest that units 2 and 3 are a single tectonic unit, whereas the southern Altai (unit 4), which previously was regarded as a single young accretionary terrane, should be subdivided into two units: a younger arc and an older continental fragment. The granitoids in the Chinese Altai can be divided into syn- and post-/non-orogenic groups. The syn-orogenic granitoids have ca. 50–80% mantle-derived component, whereas the post/non-orogenic granitoids contain ca. 70–90%. The generation of syn- and post-/non-orogenic granitoids represents horizontal (lateral) and vertical crustal growth, which contributed ca. 18–28% and 7–8% respectively to the area of the Chinese Altai. This work shows that isotopic mapping is an effective approach to elucidate terrane composition in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and thereby better constrain Palaeozoic crustal growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Large areas of central Asia and mainland China have been affected by intraplate anorogenic magmatism, linked to mantle activity from the Palaeoproterozoic to present day. This magmatism is manifested by layered mafic–ultramafic intrusions, flood basalts, bimodal volcanic rocks, dyke swarms, I- and A-type granitoids, alkaline complexes, carbonatites and kimberlites. In this paper we discuss a selection of these thermal events, namely East Asia Mesozoic–Cenozoic, Siberian Traps, Emeishan, Tarim (Bachu), Yakutsk and South China. Mineral systems that are associated with the Asian intraplate magmatic events include Ni–Cu–PGE in mafic–ultramafic intrusions, porphyry Cu–Mo and skarn deposits, polymetallic veins and auriferous lode deposits generally hosted in granitoids, rare earths and rare metals in alkaline complexes and diamondiferous kimberlites. The anorogenic intraplate igneous rocks originate from mantle sources or mixed mantle and crustal sources and are related, directly or indirectly, to deep mantle plumes or to asthenospheric upwellings that occur in response to lower crust and subcontinental lithosphere delamination linked to collision and subduction processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper is dedicated to a better understanding of the oil and gas links between Central Asia and China and the sequential implications. The author's message is threefold. 1. China's growing economic momentum, coupled with its energy constraints, has led the country to search for overseas resources. Considering the fact that Central Asia enjoys prolific hydrocarbon resources, while China has huge energy demands, there is no doubt about the economic and geopolitical importance of Central Asian resources to China. What China needs to do now is to build a bridge to link these resources. The key rationale behind this is a regional energy linkage, which constitutes a new visionary way of handling input into China. 2. Considering the costs of the transportation infrastructure inside China and the comparison between the replacement costs of foreign and domestic oil, it makes sense for China to move westwards to maximise the benefits from Central Asia and other neighbouring regions. At the same time, China has to bear the huge cost of overseas expansion and high risk, both economically and geopolitically. 3. China cannot ignore the new "Great Game" played in Central Asia and the Caucasus region. All the major powers involved so far have their varying motivations and advantages to reap from their influence on the landlocked region. China, advantageously positioned on the border of Central Asia, sees an opportunity to broaden its geo-economic role in the region and beyond, so as to become a more important geopolitical force. At the turn of the century, China will give higher priority to market penetration and aggressive diplomacy. Further alliances and geopolitical goals in Central Asia, the Middle East and Russia will be explored. However, the benefits to China will depend on the effective management of uncertainties and the status of its geopolitical strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although contemporary dust storms are frequent in arid and semi-arid areas, desert loess deposits are poorly developed. Much of the World's loess occurs in mid-latitude areas which experienced glaciation during the Pleistocene. Ocean core evidence indicates that dust transport from sub-tropical deserts increased during cold stages of the Pleistocene, but loess formed only on certain desert margins, for reasons which have not been fully explained. This paper re-examines the mechanisms of dust transport and deposition, and the circumstances leading to the accumulation of thick loess. Typical loess is composed mainly of medium silt grains which are transported in short-term suspension a few metres above the ground. Significant thicknesses of loess form only when dust is trapped within a limited area, often relatively close to the source. Dust particles finer than 20 μm are transported mainly in long-term suspension over a greater height range and may be widely dispersed. The availability of silt and the frequency, magnitude and direction of dust-transporting winds are important factors governing the potential for loess formation, but the existence of a suitable dust trap is particularly important. Traps may be formed by topographic obstacles, areas of moist ground, or vegetated surfaces. Vegetation adjacent to glacial outwash plains and braided meltwater streams trapped dust in mid-latitudes during the Pleistocene. Dust blown during glacial periods from certain deserts, notably in Sinai, Soviet Central Asia and China, accumulated as loess in neighbouring semi-arid regions. On the margins of other deserts loess formation was inhibited partly by the absence of vegetation traps. During most of the Holocene net dust deposition rates in all desert-marginal areas have been too low for significant loess accumulation. This is mainly due to a reduction in silt availability and a tendency towards landscape stability. Reported dust storm frequencies during the past 50... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]