China Pursues Greater Afghan Role As Western Influence Wanes
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China will push for greater economic and security ties with Afghanistan during a joint conference this week, claimed a report by Reuters on Sunday, with officials from both governments keen to deepen their relationship amidst an ongoing military pull-out by Western forces.
China will push for greater economic and security ties with Afghanistan during a joint conference this week, claimed a report by Reuters on Sunday, with officials from both governments keen to deepen their relationship amidst an ongoing military pull-out by Western forces.
Speaking ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit to be held in Beijing, Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai told Reuters that both governments had been in talks to enhance their security cooperation; and that their respective presidents were ready to formalise a strategic partnership, which would increase Beijing’s involvement in the region.
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“The president of Afghanistan will be meeting the president of China in Beijing and what will happen is the elevation of our existing, solid relationship to a new level, to a strategic level,” said Mosazai.
[quote]It would certainly cover a broad spectrum which includes cooperation in the security sector, a very significant involvement in the economic sector, and the cultural field,” he added.[/quote]And while China to date has maintained a relatively low profile within the international effort to re-stabilise Afghanistan, one Afghan official noted that withdrawal of Western troops from the country had forced the government to seek out an “insurance cover.”
[quote]”They’re (the Afghan government) concerned that there is going to be a security vacuum and they’re concerned about how the neighbours will behave,” said Andrew Small, an analyst at the European Marshall Fund.[/quote]At present, Bejing runs a small training program for Afghan law enforcement authorities, which focuses on counter-narcotics. Any step-up in joint security efforts though would be progressive rather than instant, said Zhang Li, a professor of South Asian studies at Sichuan University who has been studying the future of Sino-Afghan ties.
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[quote]“China will remain low-key and cautious. China wants to play more of a role there, but each option in doing that will be assessed carefully before any steps are taken,” he said.[/quote]Since 2002, China has given more than $130 million in aid for the rehabilitation of Afghanistan. The Chinese government also pledged in 2009 to provide an additional $75 million for Afghanistan till 2014.
