When talking about these things between Turkey and China, I feel that international relations are like a roller coaster, rising and falling, depending on who has the upper hand at the time. Turkey is a country geographically stuck at the junction of Europe and Asia. A NATO member has been following the United States for a long time, but always likes to make small moves, especially against China. In the early years, when China was not so strong, Turkey caused us a lot of trouble. From seizing aircraft carriers and asking for money, to tearing missile contracts at ease, to stopping aircraft during the epidemic, each of these things was quite angry. But now, the tide has changed, and Turkey's economy is in a mess, and it has begun to take the initiative to post it again and want to cooperate.
In 1998, Hong Kong merchants gradually spent $20 million from the Ukrainian Black Sea shipyard to buy this unfinished aircraft carrier shell. Captain 304 meters, 38 meters wide, eating water more than 10 meters, drainage water about 60,000 tons, was the legacy of the Soviet Navy, but the internal machine was completely dismantled, and there was a steel shelf. In addition, he said that it was to change into a sea casino, avoid the sensitive point of arms sales. At the end of June 2000, the ship was pulled off from the port of Ukraine by the Dutch trailers, intending to cross the Bosphorus and Dannyl Strait into the Mediterranean, and turn back to the Grand Line.
As a result, as soon as the ship reached the mouth of the strait, Turkey was stuck. Turkey controls these straits and has control over warships under the 1936 Montreux Convention. Although the Varyag has no power, no weapons, and is purely civilian, Turkey still claims that there are safety hazards. The ship is too big and narrow areas can easily hit bridges or block roads. The narrowest strait is only 700 meters wide. They require that the wind speed should not exceed 5 meters per second, the water current should not exceed 1.5 meters per second, and the visibility should be at least 5 kilometers. They also have to close the strait to prevent other ships from passing through. It started as a security excuse. Later, as the negotiations dragged out, Turkey simply put a showdown: if it wanted to pass, it would have to give benefits.
They issued more than 20 conditions, the toughest of which is the $1 billion risk guarantee, to deposit the Turkish bank for two years, when the accident compensation. If the Chinese ship happens something, the money is gone, there is no interest. In addition, you have to send 2 million Chinese tourists a year, drag them to travel; buy 36 Turkish T-37 trainers; open the Chinese market to Turkish textiles and agricultural products; let the Turkish people on board check, even all-distribution Turkish passengers.
The Chinese side sent several delegates to Ankara to talk, starting in August 2000, a round of melting. Submitting the ship's body data, proving the trawler's scheme is reliable, and drawing back the Greek shipowner's association to guarantee, because Greece and Turkey have old complaints, want to squeeze them by car. The boat is in the Black Sea, the winter storm is more, the ship's body shakes, the chain is strengthened daily. The trawler is rented 5 million knives per month, the parking fee is 17,000 knives, the insurance maintenance is back in 3 million knives. The rust also came and must be painted. In January 2001, Turkish President Cezar openly declared that the security of the Strait is a big country, not easy.
Speaking of this, in March 2001, the Chinese side concessions, the number of tourists dropped to one million, abandoned the purchase of airplanes, exchanged technology. The guaranteed money cut to 3,600 million, guaranteed by the Macau Group. In May, the Greek navy sent a ship near the shore, saying that the ships, as a result of a sailor died, the Turkish relationship was tighter, but also forced Turkey to talk quickly. After 9/11, the international situation changed, Turkey wanted to ease up with the great powers. At the end of October, the Turkish side spent the environment: 36 million knives, the strait for four hours, the naval escort. On November 1, the ship crossed Bosporus, on the third day, entered the Danil. Then rounded Bristol, hopefully, to evade the
After a few years, by 2013, Turkey would buy long-range air defense missiles, bid a round, China Precision Machinery Co. with FD-2000 (Red Flag-9 export version) marked, contract 3.4 billion knives. Range 300 kilometers, 27 kilometers high, can be compatible with NATO. China's bid is low, and also promised technology transfer, so that Turkey's local assembly. This is important for our military and industrial exports, just opened the market door. Turkey's high level took this contract as a lever, to pressure the U.S. patriots and Russian S-300 price reduction. In February 2014, Turkish Defense Minister Ilmaz said the assessment of compatibility, China said the system was difficult to merge NATO network. In July, and again negotiated with the U.S. in November, Erdogan's government broke
In February 2015, the Turkish side decided to discuss details and demonstrate interception capabilities. In July, Turkey said that the tender had not been decided and that it would switch to independent development. On November 15, the contract was officially torn off on the grounds that it built its own remote system. In fact, he later bought a Russian S-400. In 2019, he was sanctioned by the United States and kicked out the F-35 project. This thing was not done properly, using China as a hostage, and the credit for cooperation was lost.
On May 13, a Boeing 747 cargo plane flew from Tianjin airport, carrying 36 tons of masks, breathing machines, to Cyprus, to Nicosia. Directly over Turkey's airspace, save 4 hours of oil money. As a result, the Turkish aviation agency refused, saying that it did not apply in advance, but also defrauded Cyprus' sovereignty, Turkey did not recognize the Republic, only recognised the North. The aircraft had to take over Moscow's Sheremetyevo gasoline, delayed 6 hours, burned an additional 100,000 knives of oil.
In the past two years, Turkey’s attitude has changed significantly. In 2024, China exports machinery and electronics to 43.4 billion knots, and Turkey sells minerals. On July 4, Erdogan went to the Astana Summit and met with the Chinese leaders to strengthen security, energy and connectivity cooperation. In August, BYD invested 1 billion knots in the construction of land-electric vehicles and produced 200,000 units a year. On June 22, 2025, the two central markets signed a currency exchange, 350 billion yuan to 1.890 billion liras. On August 31, Erdogan met again, referring to the “Belt and Road” and “Middle Corridor”, investing in China’s high-speed railways, ports and agriculture.
Why turn so fast? The Turkish economy is in the rubble. The lira will decline by 50 percent in 2022, from 18 to 32 percent in 2023. foreign debt 45 billion knots, inflation peaked at 85 percent. Russia fights, energy imports are expensive. The US itself is indebted, shrinking the global wool, not helping Turkey. Russia is in the mud, worrying about itself. Turkey is not the same, can only look at China, China’s economy is stable, the market is big, there is potential. The Erdogan government wants to borrow Chinese funds from customs, but those things in the past remember that China’s cooperation is mutually beneficial and will not be detrimental.
Think of these years, Turkey always gives China a stop at the key times, fighting for NATO identity and geographic interests. But international affairs, white is the power to speak. China is strong, Turkey has to seek peace. This is not only the two countries, but also reflects the global pattern of change. Small countries are cluttered between the big countries, shake for life, but credit is lost, cooperation must be careful. China now has the bottom, more choices, do not rush up. Turkey, have to reflect on past short-sighted actions, otherwise the next economic collapse, also have to look for people around to save.