Central Asia remains a wild and forbidding place. It is a sprawling, sparsely populated area. Its position at the crossroads of trade between East and West has made it the focus of attention and competition for centuries. The discovery of significant oil and gas reserves has made Central Asia even more of a prize. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the region has taken on a new significance: It is feared to be a breeding ground of terrorism.
A century ago, Britain and Russia competed for influence in the region. Today, the primary rivalry is between China and Russia, both of which consider Central Asia to be part of their respective sphere of influence. Their concerns are understandable: In addition to the resources -- which grow more valuable daily as oil prices climb -- they worry about Islamic militants using Central Asia as a safe haven for incursions into their own countries. China keeps a wary eye on extremists in its western provinces; Russia fears the creep of violence northward from the Caucasus.
Moscow and Beijing recognized that open competition between them over Central Asia risked the frustration of their mutual objectives. So in 2001, Russia and China, along with Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, founded the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The organization was designed to help coordinate activities, particularly in security, among the six governments. That task has become even more challenging since the SCO was formed.