Previous Year: Short Questions with Answers - The End of Bipolarity

Previous Year Questions 2025

Q.1. Given below are two statements:  (1 Mark)
Statement-I: Mikhail Gorbachev, who had become General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985, sought to reform the Soviet System. 
Statement-II: Gorbachev's decision to normalise relations with the West and democratise and reform the Soviet Union had some other effects that neither he nor anyone else intended or anticipated. 
(A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true. 
(B) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are false. 
(C) Statement-I is true, but Statement-II is false. 
(D) Statement-I is false, but Statement-II is true. 

Answer: (A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true.
Solution: Gorbachev initiated reforms in 1985 to modernize the USSR. However, these changes triggered unintended consequences, such as mass protests in Eastern Europe and the eventual disintegration of the union.

Q.2. Which one of the following symbolised the division between the Capitalist and the Communist world?  (1 Mark)
(A) Gulf War 
(B) Berlin Wall 
(C) First World War 
(D) Second World War 

Answer: (B) Berlin Wall
Solution: The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, was the greatest symbol of the Cold War. It physically and ideologically separated the capitalist West from the communist East for 28 years.

Q.3. Given below are two statements:  (1 Mark)
Statement-I: The collapse of the 'Second World' of the Soviet Union and the socialist system in Eastern Europe had no profound consequences for world politics. 
Statement-II: The end of the Soviet bloc meant the emergence of many new countries. All these countries had their own independent aspirations and choices. 
(A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true. 
(B) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are false. 
(C) Statement-I is true, but Statement-II is false. 
(D) Statement-I is false, but Statement-II is true. 

Answer: (D) Statement-I is false, but Statement-II is true. 
Solution: The collapse had profound consequences, ending Cold War confrontations. Statement II is true as new players emerged with distinct identities, interests, and desires to join organizations like NATO.

Q.4. Which one of the following republics was a party to declare that 'Soviet Union was disbanded'?  (1 Mark)
(A) Lithuania 
(B) Belarus 
(C) Armenia 
(D) Georgia 

Answer: (B) Belarus 
Solution: In December 1991, Belarus, along with Russia and Ukraine, took the lead in declaring that the Soviet Union was disbanded and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Q.5. Given below are two statements:  (1 Mark)
Statement-I: There were sections of Soviet society which felt that Gorbachev should have moved much faster and were disappointed and impatient with his methods. 
Statement-II: Communist Party and those who were served by the system felt that their power and privileges were eroding and Gorbachev was moving too quickly. 
(A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true. 
(B) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are false. 
(C) Statement-I is true, but Statement-II is false. 
(D) Statement-I is false, but Statement-II is true. 

Answer: (A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are true.
Solution: Gorbachev faced a "tug of war" where reformers wanted faster changes while the bureaucracy feared losing their long-held privileges, ultimately causing him to lose support on all sides.

Q.6. Which leader played an important role in the disintegration and coup against Soviet Union?  (1 Mark)
(A) Boris Yeltsin 
(B) Nikita Khrushchev 
(C) John F. Kennedy 
(D) Joseph Stalin 

Answer: (A) Boris Yeltsin
Solution: Boris Yeltsin emerged as a national hero by opposing the 1991 coup. He led the Russian Republic to shake off centralized Soviet control, leading to the USSR's dissolution.

Q.7. Arrange the following events in chronological order:  (1 Mark)
(i) Russia, Ukraine and Belarus declared that Soviet Union was disbanded 
(ii) Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Soviet Union 
(iii) Soviet Revolution in Russia 
(iv) Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement was made 
(A) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) 
(B) (iii), (ii), (i), (iv) 
(C) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii) 
(D) (i), (iv), (iii), (ii) 

Answer: (B) (iii), (ii), (i), (iv) 
Solution: The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917, Gorbachev took power in 1985, the USSR disbanded in 1991, and the Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement was signed in 2001.

Q.8. Arrange the following events in chronological order:  (1 Mark)
(i) Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary of the Communist Party 
(ii) Socialist Revolution in Russia 
(iii) The Berlin Wall was broken by the people 
(iv) Disintegration of the USSR 
Choose the correct option : 
(A) (ii), (i), (iii), (iv) 
(B) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) 
(C) (iv), (iii), (ii), (i) 
(D) (iii), (ii), (iv), (i)

Answer: (A) (ii), (i), (iii), (iv) 
Solution: Chronology: Russian Socialist Revolution (1917), Gorbachev as General Secretary (1985), Fall of Berlin Wall (1989), and the final Disintegration of the USSR (1991).

Q.9. Choose the group of three Republics of the USSR which declared that the Soviet Union was disbanded. (1 Mark)
(A) Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus 
(B) Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia 
(C) Russia, Ukraine, Belarus 
(D) Armenia, Georgia, Belarus 

Answer: (C) 
Solution: In December 1991, the three major Slavic republics-Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus-formally declared the end of the Soviet Union and established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Q.10. Can Shock Therapy be called the best way to make transition from authoritarian socialist system to liberal capitalist system after the disintegration of Soviet Union? Explain.  (2 Marks)

Answer: No, Shock Therapy was not the best way. While it aimed for a transition to capitalism, it brought economic ruin and disaster to the region. In Russia, it led to the collapse of state-controlled industries, hyperinflation that wiped out savings, and the destruction of the social welfare system. It created mass poverty and inequality rather than the promised utopia.

Q.11. State any two arms control treaties signed between the US and Soviet Union.   (2 Marks)

Answer: The sources state that Russia, as the successor state of the USSR, carried out nuclear disarmament measures with the US. Information from outside the sources: Historically, these included the SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) and START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), which were signed to limit the accumulation of nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Q.12. Explain any four reasons responsible for the economic stagnation in Soviet Union. (4 Marks)

Answer: The Soviet economy faltered in the late 1970s due to several systemic factors:

1. Military Burden: Much of the country's resources were consumed in maintaining a massive nuclear and military arsenal to match the US.

2. Satellite Costs: Developing and supporting satellite states in Eastern Europe and the Central Asian Republics placed a huge economic burden on the system.

3. Technological Lag: The USSR lagged significantly behind the West in technology and infrastructure, particularly in transport and power.

4. Low Productivity: While wages grew, productivity fell. The 1979 invasion of Afghanistan further weakened the system, leading to severe consumer shortages and increased food imports.

Q.13. Explain any four conditions that helped the Soviet Union to become a super power after the Second World War. (4 Marks)

Answer: The Soviet Union emerged as a global superpower due to its robust post-war foundations:

1. Advanced Economy: Its economy was more developed than the rest of the world except for the US, supported by a complex communications network.

2. Energy Resources: The USSR possessed vast energy resources, including oil, iron, and steel, which fueled industrial growth.

3. Domestic Industry: It had a self-reliant consumer industry producing everything from pins to cars, ensuring independence from foreign imports.

4. Social Welfare: The state ensured a minimum standard of living, subsidizing health, education, and childcare while owning all productive assets and land.

Q.14. Was Shock therapy necessary for making a transition from Socialist economy to Capitalist economy? Support your answer with two arguments. (4 Marks)

Answer: Shock Therapy was presented as a necessary, albeit painful, process for total transition, but its results suggest it was not ideal. Arguments for its implementation included:

1. Complete Structural Change: It was argued that transitioning required rooting out all Soviet structures, making private ownership the dominant pattern and replacing collective farms with private farming.

2. External Reorientation: The transition aimed to link these states directly to the West through free trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as the primary engines of change. However, the resulting "largest garage sale in history" and economic collapse indicate that the process was too rapid and lacked necessary state oversight.

Q.15. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union was considered a super power. Support the statement with any four suitable arguments.  (4 Marks)

Answer: The USSR's superpower status was built on its extensive political and military influence:

1. Leadership of the Second World: It controlled the East European countries liberated from fascist forces, modeling their systems after its own.

2. Military Parity: In the arms race, the Soviet Union managed to match the military might of the United States for decades.

3. State Control: The economy was strictly planned and state-controlled, allowing the government to direct resources toward superpower objectives.

4. Institutional Tightness: The Communist Party maintained tight control over all institutions, ensuring a unified political front in international affairs.

Q.16. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:  (4 Marks)
The Central Asian republics did not ask for independence and wanted to remain with the Soviet Federation. In December 1991, under the leadership of Yeltsin, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus declared that the Soviet Union was disbanded. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was banned. Capitalism and democracy were adopted as the bases for the post-Soviet republics. The declaration on the disintegration of the USSR and the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) came as a surprise to the other republics, especially to the Central Asian ones.
(16.1) Which ideology was adopted by the post-Soviet countries? 
(A) Socialist 
(B) Capitalist and Democratic 
(C) Communist 
(D) Democratic 

Answer: (B) Capitalist and Democratic.
Solution: After the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the post-Soviet republics abandoned socialism and communism. They adopted capitalism and democracy as the new bases of their political and economic systems

(16.2) Which republic among the following became the successor of the Soviet Union? 
(A) Belarus 
(B) Ukraine 
(C) Commonwealth of Independent States 
(D) Russia 

Answer: (D) Russia.
Solution: Russia became the legal successor of the Soviet Union. It inherited the USSR's seat in international organisations, including the United Nations, and took over its assets, liabilities, and diplomatic responsibilities.

(16.3) Which one of the following is a Central Asian country? 
(A) Chechnya 
(B) Dagestan 
(C) Tajikistan 
(D) Czechoslovakia 

Answer: (C) Tajikistan.
Solution: Tajikistan is one of the Central Asian republics that were part of the former Soviet Union. Chechnya and Dagestan are regions within Russia, while Czechoslovakia was a Central European country.

(16.4) Which part of Soviet Union had vast hydrocarbon resources? 
(A) Eastern Europe 
(B) Central Asian Republics 
(C) Yugoslavia 
(D) Czechoslovakia 

Answer: (B) Central Asian Republics.
Solution: The Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union possessed vast reserves of hydrocarbons such as oil and natural gas. These resources made the region strategically important both during and after the Soviet era.

Previous Year Questions 2024

Q.1. Arrange the following events in the chronological order:   (1 Mark) 
(i) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 
(ii) Russian Revolution 
(iii) End of Civil War in Tajikistan 
(iv) Fall of the Berlin Wall 
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) 
(b) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii) 
(c) (iii), (iv), (i), (ii)
(d) (iv), (iii), (ii), (i) 

Answer: (b) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii)
Solution: The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917. This was followed by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the Tajikistan civil war concluded in 2001.

Q.2. Which two republics of Russia have had violent secessionist movements?   (1 Mark) 
(a) Chechnya and Azerbaijan 
(b) Croatia and Uzbekistan 
(c) Chechnya and Dagestan 
(d) Dagestan and Croatia 

Answer: (c) Chechnya and Dagestan
Solution: In Russia, the two republics of Chechnya and Dagestan have experienced violent secessionist movements. Moscow responded with military bombings that led to many human rights violations.

Q.3. Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option as answer:   (1 Mark) 
(i) The Russian Revolution 
(ii) The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 
(iii) The disintegration of Soviet Union 
(iv) The end of the World War II 
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) 
(b) (i), (ii), (iv), (iii) 
(c) (i), (iii), (iv), (ii) 
(d) (i), (iv), (ii), (iii) 

Answer: (d) (i), (iv), (ii), (iii) 
Solution: The timeline is: Russian Revolution (1917), end of WWII (1945), Afghanistan invasion (1979), and USSR disintegration (1991). This makes option (d) the correct sequence.

Q.4. Which Central Asian Republic witnessed a civil war for ten years till 2001?   (1 Mark) 
(a) Tajikistan 
(b) Kazakhstan 
(c) Uzbekistan 
(d) Azerbaijan 

Answer: (a) 
Solution: Tajikistan experienced a civil war that lasted for a decade, finally ending in 2001. This conflict caused significant instability and hardship for the region's ordinary citizens.

Q.5. Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option as answer:   (1 Mark) 
(i) Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement 
(ii) The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
(iii) Disintegration of the Soviet Union 
(iv) Socialist Revolution in Russia 
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) 
(b) (ii), (iv), (iii), (i) 
(c) (iv), (ii), (iii), (i) 
(d) (iii), (i), (ii), (iv) 

Answer: (c) (iv), (ii), (iii), (i) 
Solution: The Socialist Revolution occurred in 1917, the Afghanistan invasion in 1979, the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, and the Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement in 2001.

Q.6. Which event marked the end of Communism in the Soviet Union?   (1 Mark) 
(a) Cuban Missile Crisis 
(b) Rise of New World Order
(c) Disintegration of the Soviet Union 
(d) Rise in US economy 

Answer: (c) Disintegration of the Soviet Union
Solution: The disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 ended the ideological dispute between socialism and capitalism. It led to the collapse of the communist "second world".

Q.7. Which of the following statements in the context of shock therapy are correct?   (1 Mark) 
(i) The value of Ruble declined. 
(ii) Shock therapy strengthened capitalism. 
(iii) It reduced the prices of goods. 
(iv) It was in favour of social welfare system. 
(a) (i) and (ii) 
(b) (ii) and (iii) 
(c) (i), (ii) and (iii) 
(d) (i), (iii) and (iv) 

Answer: (a) (i) and (ii)
Solution: Shock therapy caused the value of the ruble to decline dramatically and established private ownership as the dominant pattern. It actually destroyed social welfare and caused hyperinflation.

Q.8. Who among the following emerged as a national hero in opposing the coup in the Soviet Union in 1991?  (1 Mark) 
(a) Boris Yeltsin 
(b) Nikita Khrushchev 
(c) Gorbachev 
(d) Joseph Stalin 

Answer: (a) Boris Yeltsin
Solution: Boris Yeltsin became a national hero by opposing the 1991 coup encouraged by Communist Party hardliners. He subsequently led the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.

Q.9. Explain any two reasons for the disintegration of the Soviet Union.    

Answer: Reasons for the disintegration of the Soviet Union:
(i) Internal weaknesses of the Soviet political and economic institutions.
(ii) Economic stagnation for many years led to severe consumer shortages and a large section of Soviet society began to doubt and question the system.
(iii) Ordinary people were alienated by slow and stifling administration, rampant corruption, the inability of the system to correct mistakes. This led to unwillingness to allow more openness in government and the centralisation of authority in a vast land.
(iv) Maximum resources were used on nuclear weapons and other defence equipments

Q.10. Explain any two consequences of the systematic destruction of the old system of social welfare due to shock therapy. (4 Marks) 

Answer: The transition via "shock therapy" had devastating social consequences. One major consequence was the withdrawal of government subsidies, which pushed large sections of the population into poverty.. This dismantled the state-guaranteed minimum standard of living, causing the middle class to be pushed to the periphery of society. Another significant consequence was the emergence of a powerful mafia that began controlling economic activities.. As state structures collapsed, privatization led to new, extreme economic disparities and the loss of savings for thousands of shareholders. Furthermore, the academic and intellectual manpower of the region either disintegrated or migrated abroad due to a lack of institutional support.

Q.11. Describe the role of Gorbachev to reform the Soviet system. (4 Marks)

Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev initiated vital reforms to modernize the failing Soviet system after becoming General Secretary in 1985. He introduced the policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) to improve economic and political efficiency.. These reforms sought to keep the USSR abreast of the information and technological revolutions occurring in the West. Gorbachev also focused on normalizing relations with the West and ending the costly arms race.. He democratized the political system by stripping the Communist Party of its monopoly on power and permitting multi-party politics. However, these reforms unintentionally triggered mass protests and escalated internal crises that eventually led to the Soviet Union's disintegration.

Q.12. Study the picture given below related to the Berlin Wall and answer the questions that follow: (4 Marks) 

The Berlin Wall symbolised the division between the capitalist and the communist world. Built in 1961 to separate East Berlin from West Berlin, this more than 150 kilometre long wall stood for 28 years and was finally broken by the people on 9 November 1989. This marked the unification of the two parts of Germany and the beginning of the end of the communist bloc. 

(i) What did the Berlin Wall symbolise? 

Answer: According to the sources, the Berlin Wall symbolised the division between the capitalist and the communist world and was the greatest symbol of the Cold War.

(ii) Between which two countries was the Berlin Wall built?

Answer: The wall was built within Germany to separate East Berlin from West Berlin, effectively dividing the city.

(iii) Highlight any two outcomes of breaking of the Berlin Wall. 

Answer: Two major outcomes of breaking the wall were the unification of the two parts of Germany and the beginning of the end of the communist bloc. This historic event triggered a chain of actions that eventually led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Q.13. "India has maintained good relations with Russia after the end of Cold War." Justify the statement with four examples. (4 Marks) 

Answer: India and Russia share a "special relationship" built on a history of trust and common interests. First, both nations signed the Indo-Russian Strategic Agreement of 2001, resulting in over 80 bilateral agreements.. Second, they share a vision of a multipolar world order based on collective security and strengthened global bodies like the UN.. Third, Russia remains India's primary military hardware supplier, allowing for joint production of advanced equipment.. Fourth, they cooperate extensively in energy and space sectors; Russia provides crucial assistance for India's nuclear energy plans and scientific projects like the cryogenic rocket. These examples demonstrate a deep, multi-dimensional partnership that remains central to Indian foreign policy.

Q.14. "Shock Therapy brought ruin to the economies of the former republics of the Soviet Union." Justify the statement with any two arguments. (4 Marks) 

Answer: "Shock therapy" resulted in an economic disaster for the post-Soviet region. One argument is that it led to the "largest garage sale in history," where about 90 per cent of state-controlled industries were sold at throwaway prices.. This happened because restructuring was driven by market forces rather than a controlled industrial policy, causing entire industries to disappear. Another argument is the dramatic decline in the value of the ruble, which caused hyperinflation and wiped out savings.. The collapse of collective farming also ended food security, forcing Russia to import food as its 1999 GDP fell below 1989 levels.

Q.15. During Cold War period the US economy was more developed than the rest of the world. Still the Soviet system had some special features which distinguish it from the US. Evaluate any two such features. (4 Marks) 

Answer: The Soviet system was built on ideological principles that contrasted sharply with US capitalism. One distinguishing feature was that the Soviet state ensured a minimum standard of living for all citizens.. The government heavily subsidized basic necessities, including healthcare, education, childcare, and various welfare schemes to promote equality. A second feature was the dominance of state ownership over all factors of production.. Unlike the US system of private property, land and productive assets in the USSR were owned and controlled entirely by the state. This allowed for a centrally planned economy that prioritized state-directed goals over individual economic freedom or market competition.

Previous Year Questions 2023

Q.1. Name any four Republics of erstwhile USSR. 

Answer: Republics of USSR: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,  Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.         

Q.2. Highlight any one major distinction between the Soviet economy and the Capitalist economy.

Answer: The Soviet economy was planned and controlled by the state only whereas the capitalist economy was enjoyed by the people or group of people as well as by the state.

Q.3. Why did the one-party system, represented by the Communist Party, become a source of dissent and dissatisfaction among the Soviet people?

Answer: Reasons:

• Lack of democracy and absence of freedom of speech.
• The Soviet System became very bureaucratic and authoritarian.
• Strict control over all institutions.
• Technology became outdated and productivity reduced.

Symbol of Communist Party

Q.4. Mention any three features that distinguish the Soviet economy from that of a capitalist country like the US.

Answer: The following three features distinguish the Soviet economy from that of a capitalist country like US:

• The economy was based on the ideals of socialism.
• There was no place for the institution of private property under the Soviet economy.
• State ownership was the dominant form, land and private assets were owned and controlled by the Soviet State.

Q.5. How was the US benefitted from the Soviet disintegration?

Answer:

• Cold War ended and the US became the sole superpower.
• The capitalist economy became the dominant economic system internationally.
• It signifies the collapse of the ideological conflict between the Socialists and the Capitalists.

Q.6. Assess the major consequences of disintegration of USSR on India.

Answer: The major consequences of disintegration of USSR on India are:

• After the disintegration of USSR, the world order became Unipolar in nature. India lost the support of the USSR at the international level.
• Now India had to make deliberate efforts to improve its ties with US in the Unipolar world order.
• India was not sure, initially, about Russia, the successor state of USSR about its willingness to support India on Kashmir issue and render military and economic support.
• India had to concentrate more on improving its economic and military strength to overcome the challenges posed by the emergence of the unipolar world order.

Q.7. Explain two reasons for the disintegration of the USSR.

Answer: Causes of disintegration:

• The Soviet System became very bureaucratic resulting lack of democracy.
• Although Russia was only one of the fifteen republics that together constituted the USSR Russia dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and suppressed.
• It lagged behind the West in technology and infrastructure and also in fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of citizens.

Q.8. Highlight any one consequence of 'Shock Therapy.'

Answer: 

• In Russia, the large state-controlled industrial complex almost collapsed, as about 90 percent of its industries were put up for sale to private individuals and companies at throw-away prices called -"the largest garage sale in history."
• The value of the ruble declined dramatically and the inflation rate was so high that people lost their savings.
• The Russian old system of social welfare was systematically destroyed and the withdrawal of government subsidies pushed large sections of the people into poverty.
• Post-Soviet states, especially Russia were divided between rich and poor regions resulting in great economic inequality.

Q.9. How far can Shock Therapy be called the best way to make the transition from communism to capitalism?

Answer: It was considered to be the best way because privatization of state-owned assets, replacements of collective farms by private agriculture, the introduction of free trade and Foreign Direct Investments, etc. had to be introduced in place of the features of the communist economy.

Q.10. What is meant by "Shock Therapy"?

Answer: The model of transition in Russia, Central Asia, and East Europe, which was influenced by the World Bank and the IMF, came to be known as 'Shock Therapy'. In it the transition was from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic socialist system.

Q.11. What was the main reason for the revival of the economies of most of the former Soviet Republics?

Answer: The reason for the revival of the economies of most of the former Soviet Republics was the export of natural resources like oil, natural gas, and minerals. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are major oil and gas producers. 

Other countries have gained because of the oil pipelines that cross their territories for which they get rent. Some amount of manufacturing has also started.

Q.12. Highlight any two consequences of 'Shock Therapy.'
Or
Mention any two consequences of Shock Therapy.

Answer: Following are the two consequences of 'Shock Therapy':

(i) It led to the virtual disappearance of entire industries.
(ii) The old system of social welfare was destroyed over.

 
Q.13. What is meant by a multipolar world order as visualized by India and Russia?

Answer: They meant by a multipolar world order that the co-existence of several powers in the international system, collective security, greater regionalism, negotiated settlements of international conflicts, an independent foreign policy for all countries, and decision making through bodies like the UN that should be strengthened, democratized and empowered.

Q.14. Mention any two benefits to India from its relationship with Russia.

Answer: India stands to benefit from its relationship with Russia on issues like Kashmir, energy supplies, sharing information on international terrorism, access to Central Asia, and balancing its relations with China.