Afghanistan and China's new neighbourhood diplomacy

Abstract

This article investigates the latest developments and changes in China's increasingly active diplomacy towards Afghanistan. This is interpreted from two perspectives. First, focusing on China's domestic perspective the author points out that under the ‘one belt, one road’ initiative, China's interests in Afghanistan have expanded, particularly in the area of transport; it has started seriously to consider Afghanistan as a transport corridor. The other perspective considers the withdrawal of US military forces and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan in 2014, which has been followed by a critical transitional period. Concerned by these developments, China has increased its involvement and taken on more responsibilities, as demonstrated by the unprecedented frequency of Chinese senior officials’ visits to Afghanistan; the significant increase of bilateral aid to Afghanistan; and above all, the fact that Beijing has begun to coordinate negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The process of political reconciliation in the country will be extremely difficult and a quick solution is not to be expected. With regard to the idea that the Chinese are filling a ‘vacuum’ left by the US, the article argues that the so‐called vacuum does not actually exist because the US military presence was temporary and the withdrawal of the US forces represents a return to the normal state of affairs. Also, excluding the US is not part of Beijing's policy in this area; rather, it is cooperating with the US and other countries in assisting Afghanistan.

Xi's New Security Concept and the Neighborhood Policy in the Framework of Silk Road Economic Belt

“…In terms of the struggling global economy, this Belt project aims to meet the targets of domestic targets by developing a growing model that emphasizes the manufacturing of goods. Supporting the argument (Huasheng, 2016) wrote that this Belt would benefit China's development by stimulating demand for agricultural goods in both the agriculture and industry sectors. Therefore, it would result in a good relationship between China and other nations coming under this Belt or benefiting from it.…”

“…However, China is willing to convince other countries, and most of them look convinced. Nonetheless, (Huasheng, 2016) argued that most of the nations are not ready to build this Belt because they believe that China is looking for its benefits rather than collective growth. However, this is not the case because Belt will open up the doors for all the nations coming on its way, and hence this Silk Road must be built from each end.…”

China's Peace‐Maker Role in Afghanistan: Mediation and Conflict Management

“…Afghanistan has become one of the largest sources of drugs trafficked to China. 34 Indeed, Afghanistan is the opium capital of the world, producing over 90 percent of the world's opium for heroin production and supplying Europe with 95 percent of its heroin. 35 According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), an estimated 25 percent of opiates in China originate in Afghanistan, and its share is likely to grow in the years to come.…”

“…Instability in Afghanistan affects not only the future of China's role in Central Asia; it also makes it extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, for BRI to succeed. 42 Moreover, any instability emanating from Afghanistan would limit Beijing's expansive infrastructural and connectivity ambitions, such as China's $62 billion investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has been a target of militant activities and terror. 43 As the Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, Yao Jing, has said, "Without Afghan connectivity, there is no way to connect China with the rest of the world."…”

“…Beijing has launched bilateral and trilateral talks with the key players in the region -Pakistan, Russia, India and Iran -and has created mechanisms to discuss the Afghan question in collaboration with them: bilateral mechanisms with Pakistan and Iran, and trilateral mechanisms with Russia and India, Russia and Pakistan, and Afghanistan and Pakistan. 61 Finally, China is attempting to improve the economic and social situation in Afghanistan by providing economic aid and strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. While China's aid to Afghanistan is less than that of some countries (India or the United States), it has provided Afghanistan with over $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid since 2001.…”