Security Concerns Continue to Plague China's Relationship with Afghanistan

By Hamid Pakteen

Afghanistan: For years, China has cultivated a relationship with the Taliban in Afghanistan, even keeping its embassy open during the group's takeover in 2021.

However, security concerns have dominated China's policy towards Afghanistan, as the country worries about the potential spillover of militants into China's western Xinjiang region, the safety of its infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, and the security of its citizens in the country.

In December 2022, an attack on a hotel in Kabul frequented by Chinese nationals further exacerbated these concerns, leading the Chinese government to advise its citizens and companies to evacuate Afghanistan.

China has also emphasized the need for Afghanistan to take "resolute" measures to crack down on terrorism, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which China views as a threat.

While China has signed a Belt and Road Initiative agreement with Afghanistan and promised to fund $100 million in projects, very little progress has been made in terms of an actual investment.

Ultimately, China's primary interest in Afghanistan is still centred on security and preventing any breach of militancy in the Uyghur areas of China.

As a result, the Taliban's hopes of receiving aid or investment in Afghanistan's infrastructure from China are likely to be disappointing.