Central Asia, containing the web of trade routes known as the Silk Road, has for centuries been an area of crucial interest to Chinese policy-makers because it was China's foremost gateway to the outside world. While the importance of the Silk Road may have declined, the region remains an area of considerable Chinese concern, as Karrar (U. of Toronto) demonstrates in this review of Chinese policy following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the independent states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In addition to examining China's diplomacy towards the Central Asian states, Karrar also reviews developments in the border province of Xinjiang. Important themes include energy politics and the role of Central Asia in Sino-American relations, particularly following the 2001 invasion and occupation of Afghanistan by the US. Distributed in the US by UTP Distribution. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)