By Ishita Dutta

China’s role in Afghanistan has expanded with economic and hegemonic interests in the region. China has enjoyed the benefits of US presence economically and securing the territory against real and perceived threats posed by radical Islamists who might have otherwise challenged China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims. With US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the future prospects for Beijing look beneficial due to the friendly ties with Pakistan and subsequently with the Taliban. By legitimizing the Taliban, courting them as a sovereign diplomatic delegation in July 2021, China gave the Taliban the recognition that it aspires for. The validation by China will benefit the Taliban in adding momentum to its efforts for garnering international legitimacy. China is an emerging hegemon in the region. The Taliban has massive support from Pakistan, and the Chinese influence over Pakistan is another major factor for the Taliban’s ties with China. In the coming weeks, China, with its economic and military advantage, can further influence the Taliban’s support in the region. Taliban requires monetary funds to govern the country that China has the potential to provide.

Image Source: The Heritage Times In her response, Hua expressed Beijing’s willingness to develop a good relationship with the Taliban, stating that “China respects the will of the Afghan people.”

China, unlike its neighbor India has been able to retain diplomatic presence in Kabul owing to close ties it cultivated with the Taliban leadership as well as their patrons in Pakistan. The Chinese government requires the Taliban’s cooperation to ensure security for its massive connectivity projects in the region and attempts to isolate and flush out Uyghur separatists and dissidents. China’s role in Afghanistan will be watched carefully as it seeks to wrestle with key challenges in its immediate neighborhood in its quest for superpower status. At the decided press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on the day President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan, spokesperson Hua Chunying was inquired if the Chinese government plans to recognize the Taliban as the valid government of Afghanistan. Some speculators deducted Hua’s response as an allusion to the fact that China will soon recognize the Taliban regime and become fully involved in Afghanistan. However, the matter is extremely nuanced and complicated, therefore, Beijing will approach Afghan affairs more cautiously than is perceived by many. China’s role in Afghanistan can also set new standards of world order by the east. The Chinese authorities have long criticized the west for its interventions. China’s role in Afghanistan in the coming years would reflect upon the ideals that China stands for. Unlike the United States that sought to justify intervention on the plank of ‘war on terror’ and furthering agenda of ‘democracy’ and human rights, China proclaims a policy of non–intervention in determining political values of other countries.

China’s calm reaction post the Taliban’s takeover indicates towards a country that was prepared for the changed geo–political reality in a bid to assuage its concerns stemming from radical Islamists. In particular China has security concerns with the situation in Xinjiang. Taliban’s takeover will create a radical shift in regional ideology and hence impact secure borders of China. The strategically planned approach of China in Afghanistan has limitations if the situation in Kabul deteriorates.

It is true that China is ready to step into the void in Afghanistan, but not necessarily to fill the vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal. Beijing is poised with economic inducements and “cooperative relations” to redraw the region’s geopolitical map. Image Source: Financial Times

After the Taliban’s take over, The Global Times, amouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, statedChina’s stand as, “China doesn’t have a feud withAfghanistan…No matter who is in power, we’reready to be Afghanistan’s friend”. China’s interest inAfghanistan is limited to economic profits, and evenwith an unstable region, China does not plan tointervene or solve the conflict. But China’srecognition of the Taliban government will benefitthe Taliban and increase its legitimacy. After the July2021 meeting with the Taliban, China’s stand in thisregard was made abundantly clear in a statement released after the meeting:” Afghanistanbelongs to the Afghan people, and its future should be in the hands of its people,” indicates alot about its foreign policy and world view as a superpower, which differs drastically from thewest superpowers. “Our leadership has a very rational outlook,” said Qian, the TsinghuaUniversity professor. “So that we don’t follow the tracks [of the U.S.] and make the samemistakes.” The United States botched up exit and the Taliban’s rapid ascent has created avacuum of leadership in the region that China may seek to fill. Image Source: TRT World

The lack of security and military around Afghanistan will draw China’s active participation. China’s role in infrastructural development in the region, coupled with its deep pockets and UNSC seat can help it shape contours of political developments in Afghanistan. The relationship between the Taliban and China can be beneficial for both, but can this benefit the people of Afghanistan?

References

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