China supported Rabbani's government against the Taliban in the 1990s, but its negative view of the Taliban and lack of recognition of the group by China gradually changed. In fact, after the overthrow of the Taliban and the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Afghanistan, Beijing sought to establish good relations with Kabul by expanding its relations. (Photo quoted from Yahoo’s image)

 

The growing role of the Taliban in Afghanistan has drawn Beijing's attention to this group. Because the United States sees China as its most important rival in the international arena. Trump hoped to turn the Taliban into a force against China by compromising with the group and improving relations between the United States and Pakistan. This has led China to pay more attention to the Taliban and strengthen its military and defense position and geopolitical presence in the neighboring country. China doesn’t want a vacuum to be created against their interests following US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

 

China is concerned about its strategic blockade by the United States and its military bases, Beijing is also opposed to the continuation of permanent US bases on Afghan soil, and is concerned about the continued NATO military presence in Afghanistan and views it as a security threat. The Taliban also opposes the long-term presence of NATO and the United States in Afghanistan.

 

In addition, China's long-term strategy is to have strategic relations with Pakistan and to counter India-U.S. cooperation in Afghanistan, so it is not reluctant to consider increasing its ties with the Taliban and Pakistan against the increasing role of India.

 

On the other hand, China's strategy to curb extremism is multidimensional. Beijing in its documents focuses on the fight against terrorism and supports countries' efforts to combat Islamic extremism. In the same context, it considers counter-terrorism cooperation with other actors to maintain security, and the exchange of intelligence to counter threats.

 

In fact, China is concerned about the presence of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and Uyghurs in Afghanistan. There is still a danger that ISIS extremists will return to China through the Muslim province of Xinjiang via Afghanistan's Badakhshan province and Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. Therefore, cutting the ties of Taliban with al-Qaeda and ISIS and its good relation with China in order to eliminate the threat of ISIS is important for Beijing. 

 

This is why Afghan officials recently said they had diminished a Chinese spy ring in Kabul that was pursuing and killing Uighur Muslims with the help of the Haqqani network (a Taliban-linked terrorist group).

 

In another area, economic gain is one of Beijing's most important foreign policy strategies. China's previous investments in Afghanistan have been small, but may change in the near future. In fact, China's economic investments in South Asia require the cooperation of the Taliban. It also seems that China, in consultation with the Taliban, is seeking to invest in Afghanistan's abundant underground resources. Now some sources report that China is suggesting a tempting offer to the Taliban after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and is trying to invest in Afghanistan by building roads, investing in energy and infrastructure, power plants, etc., especially in areas where the Taliban are present. 

 

Moreover, with the increasing role and influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, China has increased its relations with this group. China will pursue efforts to protect its security interests. Therefore, China's approach to mediation and participation in the peace process and relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan is important. In fact, the Taliban can make a fortune by exploiting Afghanistan's mineral wealth, and China can reap huge benefits by establishing peace between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban.

 

Farzad Ramezani Bonesh

Senior Researcher and Analyst of International Affairs