The “Eastern Polygon” of the Trans-Siberian rail line: a critical factor for assessing Russia’s strategy toward Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific

Jacopo Maria Pepe ()
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Jacopo Maria Pepe: German Council on Foreign Relations

Asia Europe Journal, 2020, vol. 18, issue 3, No 3, 305-324

Abstract: Abstract This paper discusses the critical role that the Eastern Section (“Eastern Polygon”) of the Trans-Siberian rail line (TSR) plays in Moscow’s broader strategy toward the Asia-Pacific and Eurasia. The paper argues that existing domestic financial constraints in the rail infrastructure development of the “Eastern Polygon,” while relevant, do not account alone for Russia’s increasing challenges when it comes to simultaneously integrate in the political economy of the Asia-Pacific, modernize the Far East Regions of the country, and leverage both to secure the TSR’s monopolistic position as main transcontinental artery between Asia and Europe. It is much more the combined and cumulative effect of domestic, financial infrastructure constraints along this section of the TSR, China’s ambiguous position on the TSR’s role in its Belt and Road Initiative as well as the emergence of new corridors following the geographic shift in production and industrial locations inside China which ultimately thwarts Russia’s plan to leverage the “Eastern Polygon” to realize its geopolitical and geo-economic ambitions in the Asia-Pacific and Eurasia at large.

Keywords: Russia; Trans-Siberian rail line; Pivot to Asia; Asia-Pacific; Eurasia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s10308-019-00543-5

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