ENGLISH தமிழ் বাংলা മലയാളം हिंदी मराठी

Follow Us:

Friday, August 27, 2021

Home India World Cities Opinion Sports Entertainment Lifestyle Tech Videos Explained Audio
SUBSCRIBE
Epaper Sign in
Home / Explained / Explained: Why China is looking at a larger role in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Explained: Why China is looking

at a larger role in Taliban-ruled
Afghanistan
Following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, China has emerged
as one of the first nations to develop diplomatic channels with the Taliban.
What are its economic interests in the country?

Written by Komal Gupta , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi |

Updated: August 27, 2021 8:22:23 am

Taliban fighters patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 19, 2021. (AP Photo: Rahmat Gul)

This week, China established its first diplomatic contact with the Taliban in Kabul,
just a week after the militant group took control of Afghanistan. “China and the
Afghan Taliban have unimpeded and effective communication and consultation,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing soon
after.

Following the recent withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, China has emerged
as one of the first nations to develop diplomatic channels with the Taliban,
which has swept to power once again in the crisis-torn country. Interestingly, China
has over the past two decades of US-led governance of Afghanistan, maintained a
low profile, quietly observing as the longest war in history raged on taking itsEXPLAINED
toll in
terms of both resources and lives. ISIS chapter
the turf war w

Best of Explained

What is the new AY.12 sub-lineage of Delta variant?

ISIS chapter in Afghanistan and the turf war with Taliban

Hari Singh Nalwa: Sikh warrior who won many battles against Afghans

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

H.E. Wang Yu, the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, highlights that China did
provide the war-torn country millions of dollars in aid for building hospitals, such
as Jamhuriat Hospital, a solar power station in Bamyan Province and more.

But now, as Zhou Bo, an expert on the Chinese Army’s strategic thinking on
international security, wrote in his op-ed for The New York Times, “Beijing has few
qualms about fostering a closer relationship with the Taliban and is ready to assert
itself as the most influential outside player in an Afghanistan all but abandoned by
the United States.”

In this July 28, 2021, file photo, Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, left, and Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi pose during a meeting in Tianjin, China. (Li Ran/Xinhua via AP, File)

What is China’s economic interest in Afghanistan? EXPLAINED

Afghanistan is sitting on mineral deposits estimated to be worth up to $3 trillion, ISIS chapter
the turf war w
Reuters reported quoting a former mines minister of the country.

The country is probably home to what may be the world’s largest reserves of
lithium – the key ingredient of the large-capacity lithium-ion batteries that are
widely used in electric vehicles and the renewable energy industry. And since
China dominates Lithium-Ion Battery Production worldwide, it may seek long-term
a contract with the Taliban to develop Afghanistan’s massive untapped lithium
reserves in return for mining rights and ownership arrangements.

Afghanistan is also rich in several other resources such as gold, oil, bauxite, rare
earths, chromium, copper, natural gas, uranium, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc,
gemstones, talc, sulphur, travertine, gypsum and marble.

Returning to power in Afghanistan after 20 years, the Taliban has recaptured these
massive mineral deposits. “With the U.S. withdrawal, Beijing can offer what Kabul
needs most: political impartiality and economic investment,” Zhou Bo wrote.
“Afghanistan in turn has what China most prizes: opportunities in infrastructure
and industry building — areas in which China’s capabilities are arguably
unmatched — and access to $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits.”

From the NYT |To China, Afghan fall proves US hubris. It also brings new
dangers

China’s Belt and Road Initiative: China’s strategic Belt-and-Road Initiative (BRI)
could get more reach if it able to extend the initiative from Pakistan to Afghanistan,
with a Peshawar-to-Kabul motorway. The road, which is already being discussed,
would create a much shorter land route for faster and convenient access to markets
in the Middle East for Chinese goods. A new route through Kabul would also render
India’s reluctance to join BRI less consequential.

Express Explained.Live: Taliban 2.0 | Gautum Mukhopadhaya: What's …

What are Beijing’s security concerns about a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan?

The Turkistan Islamic Movement (TIM), also known as the East Turkestan Islamic
EXPLAINED
Movement (ETIM), is an Uyghur Islamic extremist organisation founded in Western
ISIS chapter
China with the aim to establish an independent state called East Turkestan in the the turf war w
place of Xinjiang. Since 2002, the ETIM has been listed as a terrorist organisation by
the UN Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. However, the United States
removed it from its list of Terrorist Organizations in 2020.

The US, the United Kingdom and the UN have accused China of widespread human
rights abuses against the local Muslim Uyghur population in Xinjiang, including
forced labour and large-scale detentions. Beijing has denied these claims.

According to the UN security council, the ETIM had roots in Afghanistan as it

received support from the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the 2000s. Some experts doubt
the capacity of the group to instigate violence, or even its present-day existence.

Still China is worried that Afghanistan could become a potential haven for the
Uyghur extremist group, which could retaliate against the “widespread repression
of Uyghurs.”

Also read |China can contribute to Afghan development: Taliban spokesman

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, in a July meeting with the deputy leader of the
Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said he hoped the Taliban would “make a
clean break with all terrorist organisations including the ETIM resolutely and
effectively”. He stressed that ETIM “poses a direct threat to China’s national security
and territorial integrity”.

Wang added that he hoped the Taliban would “hold high the banner of peace talks,
set the goal of peace, build a positive image and pursue an inclusive policy”, clearly
indicating that China wants stability in Afghanistan, ensuring that terrorist
insurgencies don’t spill over into the Xinjiang province.

Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: CISF constable arrested for false email to headquarters

Cyberabad police registers case against Karvy Stock Broking Ltd

Telangana: Pvt budget schools seek govt support to overcome financial distress

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Newsletter | Click to get the day’s best explainers in your inbox

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel
(@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Explained News, download Indian Express App.
 The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a
global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards. EXPLAINED
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd ISIS chapter
the turf war w

TAGS: Afghanistan Explained Global Express Explained Taliban

0 Comment(s) *
* The moderation of comments is automated and not cleared manually by indianexpress.com.

MORE EXPLAINED
Hari Singh Nalwa:
Warrior who won
battles against Afghans

Why India allowed

Boeing 737 Max planes
to fly again

Why New Zealand's

football team could
have a new name

What signing of India-

Maldives infra project
means

BEST OF EXPRESS

Bajrang Punia backs

Neeraj Chopra protest
over ‘agenda’, says
respect athletes,
whether from Pak or
elsewhere

Facial recognition spread

absence of data
protection law

Entertainment
The Empire review:
Kunal Kapoor, Shabana
Azmi period saga is no
Game of Thrones, but it sticks to its guns

Entertainment
Break Point first look: EXPLAINED
Leander Paes and
Mahesh Bhupathi to ISIS chapter
reveal story of their the turf war w
partnership, see photo

Trending
'This is what hope looks
like': Photo of Afghan
girl skipping on tarmac
after landing in Belgium
goes viral

Trending
Little girl cuts Queen's
face from currency
notes to stick on dolls,
leaves mother in splits

Sports
Manchester United
complete signing of
Cristiano Ronaldo from
Juventus

Sports
India vs England 3rd
Test, Day 3: Top order
fights back

Opinion
How to read the state of
the economy

Hari Singh Nalwa:

Warrior who won
battles against Afghans

Lifestyle
Shruti Seth shares
simple stretches to
'help relax the muscles
and get restful sleep'

Technology
Interview: Dell executive
on the changing gaming
landscape in India

MUST READ
Sports
Manchester United
complete signing of
Cristiano Ronaldo from
Juventus

Sports
India vs England 3rd
Test, Day 3: Top order
fights back
 Sports
No surprises in Igor
Stimac’s Indian squad
for friendlies
EXPLAINED
ISIS chapter
the turf war w
Technology
Interview: Dell executive
on the changing gaming
landscape in India

Technology
Snapchat's Scan feature
gets new upgrade:
Here's what is new

Technology
Apple loosens app store
payment rules in
lawsuit settlement

Lifestyle
Shruti Seth shares
simple stretches to
'help relax the muscles
and get restful sleep'

EXPRESS OPINION
Opinion
How to read the state of
the economy

Opinion
Partition violence didn’t
come down to a simple
‘us’ vs ‘them’ binary

Opinion
Teacher, friend, icon:
Remembering historian
David Baker

Opinion
Has the economic
fallout of the pandemic
affected different
communities in
different ways?

AUG 27: LATEST NEWS

Several US marines
killed, injured in blasts
near Kabul airport

‘Their blood will be on

your hands’: Kabul’s
chaos hits Canadian
PM Justin Trudeau’s
campaign
 Punjab lost Rs 15000
crore — 3% of its GDP —
due to road accidents
EXPLAINED
between 2016-19, says
road research ISIS chapter
organisation data the turf war w

Maha Vikas Aghadi

govt seeks appointment
with Koshyari over MLC
appointment

Maharashtra
government devises
formula for OBC quota
in local body polls

Amid power tussle in

Chhattisgarh Congress,
Chhattisgarh CM
Baghel called to Delhi
again

Explained: What signing

of the $500m India-
Maldives mega-infra
project means

At Byculla orphanage,
22, including four
children, test positive
for Covid-19

Spencer teaser: Kristen

Stewart stuns as
Princess Diana, watch
video

Maharashtra: 190
office-bearers of MPCC
announced

TRENDING NEWS

Horoscope Mumbai News Pune News Covid-19 Vaccination

Centre

Delhi News India News Covid Vaccine Slot Mucormycosis

Availability

Jio Recharge Plans Airtel Recharge Plans VI Recharge Plans Art & Craft Classes For
Kids

Fitness Classes For Kids Dance Classes For Kids AP Inter Results 2021 Afghanistan News

FOLLOW US
DOWNLOAD APPS

EXPLAINED
ISIS chapter
the turf war w
The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global
service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.

EXPRESS GROUP

The Indian Express ieTamil.com

The Financial Express ieBangla.com

Loksatta ieMalayalam.com

Jansatta inUth

The ExpressGroup MyInsuranceClub

Newsletters 26/11 Stories of Strength

Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards Online Classes for Kids

Light House Journalism

QUICK LINKS

T&C Privacy Policy

Advertise with Us Brand Solutions

Contact Us Subscribe

Statutory provisions on reporting (sexual offenses) This website follows the DNPA’s code of conduct

Copyright © 2021 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved