Yang Chen

Abstract

Turkey’s attempted military coup on 15 July 2016 provided an opportunity for China and Turkey to improve cooperative relations. After the military coup, Turkey experienced a severe internal political crisis. Structural contradiction with traditional Western allies forced Turkey to reconsider its allegiances and political positions. Several high-level Chinese delegations to Turkey played an important role in improving Turkey’s political stability, economic development and national security. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s re-election as president of Turkey, the strategic coordination between Turkey and China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Turkey’s Middle Corridor project all accelerated and promoted China–Turkey relations. This is a golden opportunity for China and Turkey to build the strategic cooperation relations that began in 2010. If Turkey can accommodate the core interests of and establish political ties with China, further cooperation between the two countries will not only benefit both, but also have a great impact on regional stability and global governance.

Keywords

China–Turkey relations, July 15 Coup, Gülen Movement, Belt and Road Initiative, Middle Corridor, strategic cooperation

From: Critical Sociology 2020 46 (4-5)

Editor: Wang Yi