A further note, if you look at the initial map of the OBOR (2013 version), you will see the southern Eurasian corridor passing through Turkey via central Asia.
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The map, however, has been factually updated.
While the northern route has progressed very fast, the southern route has been modified. Now, the Central Asian Route also follows the direction of the Northern Route, a little bit down south, but without touching West Asia.
There are more than 20 rail-links between Central Asia and Europe that originates from China's West and Central regions.
The very volatile and unstable situation in Turkey and the larger region must have played a big role here. But, the lingering issue of sponsorship of terrorist and separatist activities must have weighted big here.
What Turkey misses here is huge; once the alternative Southern Route is fully established and interest linkages are created along the road, there will be no need for another route across Turkey into Europe.
In fact, as I see it from my extensive studies, China's policy makers are quite content with the positive response from Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
My point is, Turkey can easily be sidelined as it, unlike the popular opinion in Turkey, provides little geographical-logistical advantage that cannot be off-set or by-passed.
CPEC into a stabilized Afghanistan and Iran via Pakistan would provide the perfect access to the entire Levant and Gulf.
