Affiliation:
1. Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Abstract
China has remained detached from the events in Afghanistan, generally playing a passive role during the US-led war in its neighbour and refusing to actively support any parties in the conflict. However, Beijing was prompt to embrace Taliban 2.0 as the new power in Kabul as Ashraf Ghani’s regime collapsed in the wake of the US withdrawal in August 2021. At first glance, this appears to be a shift in policy from China’s previous apathetic stance to actively taking the Taliban’s side. Yet, a closer look at China’s actions reveal that it has maintained a consistently narrow and pragmatic policy towards its neighbour since 2002. This article unpacks China’s remarkably consistent Afghanistan policy, identifying its basis in two primary interests: ensuring stability in its Xinjiang province and trade with Central Asia. As long as Beijing is able to secure the willing cooperation from the main parties within Afghanistan to securing these interests, it is indifferent as to who the authority in Kabul is.
Subject
Political Science and International Relations
Reference43 articles.
1. South Korea’s changing middle power identities as response to North Korea
2. China’s Belt and Road Vision
3. Calabrese J. (2021, September 21). China’s Taliban Conundrum [News and analysis]. All About China - Middle East Institute. https://www.mei.edu/publications/chinas-taliban-conundrum
4. Campbell C. (2021, August 30). China Sees opportunity after America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. But can Beijing do any better? Time. https://time.com/6093618/china-afghanistan/
5. China's Peace-Maker Role in Afghanistan: Mediation and Conflict Management