appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Liu Zongyi

Since the Afghan Taliban entered Kabul last month, the situation in Afghanistan and the role of China, Russia, Pakistan and Afghanistan’s other neighbours have become the focus of the international media.
Many in the West and India have linked the Afghan Taliban’s seizure of power to China-US relations, China-India relations and India-Pakistan relations.
They believe that the Taliban’s capture of power is a positive development for China and Pakistan, and a strategic failure for the West, particularly the United States, and India. The reason for this is mainly thinking in terms of geopolitical competition and zero-sum games.
The rapid capture of Kabul by the Taliban and its seizure of power came as a surprise to almost everyone. One reason for the Taliban’s swift success was that the US’ hasty withdrawal of its troops crushed the morale of the Ashraf Ghani government and its troops.
Another reason is that. after 20 years of biding its time, the Taliban has matured a lot politically, and the political tactics it used in the process of seizing power were very clever.


In addition, the Taliban’s victory also shows that its governance model is considered reasonable by the Afghan people, while the government backed by the United States did not have the support of the people. Of course, many people, especially in the US and other Western countries, would see this argument as being of the “existence is reasonable” variety, but this is the reality of Afghanistan.
Each country has its own unique historical, cultural and political traditions. External forces can only guide or induce change on the premise of respect for these various traditions. No external forces can fundamentally change them.
After the US declared that it would withdraw its troops and before the Taliban occupied Kabul, China and Russia were actively promoting peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the Ghani government, hoping that, through negotiations, they would establish a regime that would represent all political forces in Afghanistan.
Recognising that the Taliban was a major political and military force within Afghanistan, China hoped that the new government established through negotiations would not only accommodate the Taliban, but also avoid some extreme policies at home and abroad that the Taliban had implemented when it was in power alone. But this process was interrupted by the Taliban’s rapid seizure of power.


As a close neighbour, China does not want Afghanistan to remain in turmoil. Beijing is concerned that a turbulent Afghanistan will become a hotbed of extremism, separatism and terrorism, and especially a haven for East Turkestan forces such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.
China also does not want a turbulent Afghanistan to become an exporter of refugees and drugs, which would affect the security and stability of Xinjiang and its neighbouring regions, and could endanger construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
While some have speculated that China hopes Afghanistan will become a connection point in the Belt and Road Initiative or a geopolitical tool for China and Pakistan to use against the US and India, this is nonsense.
Afghanistan has never been regarded as an important node in the belt and road plan, although Beijing does hope the initiative will help bring peace and prosperity to the country.


Strategists in the West and India are also speculating that China will invest heavily in mining Afghanistan’s mineral resources now that the Taliban is in power. According to estimates by the Americans and former Afghan government, the nation’s mineral resources could be worth from US$1 trillion to US$3 trillion.
However, no matter how rich it is in mineral resources, there can be no economic development before Afghanistan achieves political stability and domestic security. For China, the economic benefits of Afghanistan’s mineral resources remain unclear, and of much greater importance is the stability and security of the areas bordering Xinjiang.
Why Biden’s Afghan debacle 20 years after 9/11 gives China cause for worry
China’s special envoy for Afghan affairs Yue Xiaoyong has just visited Kabul. What the Afghan Taliban is saying at present is different from its rhetoric of the past.
The Taliban are now facing a series of severe challenges: the need to tackle opposition forces at home; food shortages that are likely to lead to a humanitarian disaster and an outpouring of refugees; and, an economy that lacks any momentum for development and is on the verge of collapse. The Taliban urgently needs the recognition and help of the international community.


But, at the same time, it faces hostility and sanctions from the West. If Afghanistan relapses into turmoil or there is a serious humanitarian crisis, refugees will flow out to the surrounding areas. Even Europeans are concerned about the problem, given their experience with Syrian refugees.
China hopes to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by providing aid and urging the Taliban to implement policies that promote internal tolerance and external moderation.
it’s clear that China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Europe share the same interests on the Afghan issue. They should not only provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, but also persuade the US, India and other countries to step up and take responsible action.
Liu Zongyi is secretary general of the South Asia and China Center at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies


Ex-Canada PM Jean Chretien tells US: ‘never mistake our generosity for weakness’

Americans mark 25 years since 9/11 attacks amid enduring grief, reflection

Emma Bonino, Italian politician who fought for abortion rights, dies aged 78

25 years ago, America faces ‘darkest hour’ as 9/11 terror attacks unfold – SCMP archive

Afghanistan

What China wants from Afghanistan: stability and security

Illustration: Stephen Case

China denies it is taking over Afghan military site that was US base

Bagram Airfield ended up in Taliban hands after US and Nato forces vacated it. Photo: Xinhua

China weighs how best to bolt the back door to terrorists from Afghanistan

China and Tajikistan have held a joint anti-terror drill as Beijing moves to bolster its security ties in Central Asia. Photo: Xinhua

India’s worries over Taliban in Afghanistan fuels talk of revived ‘Northern Alliance’ with Iran, Russia

Armed individuals gather to pledge their support for Afghan security forces and fight against the Taliban. Photo: Reuters

epa09348142 People stranded at the Pakistani-Afghan border wait for its reopening after it was closed following clashes between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants at Chaman, Pakistan, 16 July 2021. Taliban fighters have captured a vital border crossing with Pakistan at Spin Boldak, in the southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan, in the latest militant offensive of seizing territories since May 01 when American forces began withdrawing from the country. EPA-EFE/AKHTER GULFAM

epa09344993 Afghan security forces sit at a checkpoint near the Spin Boldak border with Pakistan, after Taliban captured the district, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, 14 July 2021. Taliban fighters have captured a vital border crossing with Pakistan at Spin Boldak, in the southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan, officials and insurgents said on 14 July, in the latest militant offensive of seizing territories since 01 May when American forces in Afghanistan began withdrawing. EPA-EFE/M. SADIQ

Opinion


China is less interested in Afghanistan’s mineral wealth or its potential as part of the Belt and Road Initiative than in its security, especially in the regions bordering Xinjiang



China is less interested in Afghanistan’s mineral wealth or its potential as part of the Belt and Road Initiative than in its security, especially in the regions bordering Xinjiang.


Central Asia

War in Afghanistan

Xinjiang

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


What China wants from Afghanistan: stability and security

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} China is less interested in Afghanistan’s mineral wealth or its potential as part of the Belt and Road Initiative than in its security, especially in the regions bordering Xinjiang

China is less interested in Afghanistan’s mineral wealth or its potential as part of the Belt and Road Initiative than in its security, especially in the regions bordering Xinjiang