Quote Originally Posted by Dayuhan View Post
If Russia tries to take a bite at Kazakhstan the Kazakhs will likely be looking to the east for support, not to the west, and they are likely to get it. China has a significant and rising presence there, and has made Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan central pillars in the campaign for access to oil and gas that doesn't have to pass through marine space outside their sphere of influence.

Kazakhstan's Russian population is concentrated in the north, along the border... not where the oil is, but I wouldn't bet on the Kazakhs letting it go easily.

Potentially an interesting situation, though not one that would necessarily involve the US.
Dayuhan---100% correct---China will have a definite role to play and will play that role but Putin feels he is wrapping China around his finger--or at least he is assuming that.