Security

Political

Economic

Strategic

Themes (T)

How does China engage with Afghanistan after the US withdrawal to safeguard its security interests while managing political instability and economic risk?

-   China has consistently respected the Taliban as legitimate long-term political actors.

-   Taliban have found China to be a valuable source of economic and political support for its regime.

CN’s primary interest: security

-   Wakhan Corridor

-   Constructing additional border outposts in Tajikistan

-   Uyghur jihadists with ties to separatists in Xinjiang

-   East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)

-   Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP)

-   Resource extraction of valuable minerals (rare earth minerals)

-   Iron, copper, and gold

-   World’s largest deposits of lithium: a rare earth mineral critical to developing technology for the green economy, eg: electric vehicle batteries

-   Oil extraction - Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Company (CAPEIC).

-   Copper: Mes Aynak copper mine in Logar province - world’s second-largest deposit of copper.

-   CPEC

China’s Security-First Strategy in Afghanistan after U.S. Withdrawal

1. China assertive influence towards Afghanistan using Pakistan as proxy

2. Failure of US course of action in Afghanistan

Theme:

China interest towards afghanistan economic and power vacuum

Category: Security and Economy

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