Building the New Silk Road: China’s Increasing Influence in Afghanistan

Image: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan’s deputy prime minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar after a meeting on March 24th (Xinhua News Agency)

Author: Anna Maloney

Currently

A regional conference is being held in the Chinese town of Tunxi with representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan meeting to discuss the economic and humanitarian crisis facing Afghanistan. According to a recent report from the UN, nearly 23 million people within Afghanistan are currently experiencing acute hunger. Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended talks today, with U.S. special representative Tom West, hosted by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. The meetings are set to continue into tomorrow, with hopes of addressing the recent Taliban decision to bar women from attending public school within Afghanistan, as well as the current food crisis.

Growing Regional Connections

With the ongoing Ukraine crisis, western attention shifted away from the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021. China has maintained its embassy in Kabul, and a diplomatic presence within Afghanistan post U.S. troop withdrawal. The Afghan foreign ministry spokesperson announced last week that the two nations have discussed Afghanistan joining China’s Belt and Road Infrastructure initiative. While details of the talks have not yet been officially released, the increasingly heightened tensions between Afghanistan and the Western World (seen through the international outrage over the Taliban enforcing a closure of schools to girls beyond the sixth grade) have only served to strengthen Chinese diplomatic relations within the region.

Looking Ahead

Through the conference it is likely that China will attempt to position itself as the lead humanitarian interventionist in the ongoing economic and food crisis in Afghanistan. With western sanctions continuing to weaken the nation, Afghanistan could very well become more reliant on Chinese investments. One such vein of investment is the Mes Aynak mine- believed to hold the world’s largest copper deposit. The rare minerals deal would cement Chinese influence in the nation- bringing in over $250 million a year according to the government officials, and aiding China in maintaining itself as a global manufacturing powerhouse. These investments would further de-incentivize the Taliban to capitulate to international pushes for girls education and reform, chipping away significantly at western nations economic power over Afghanistan.