Despite its official criticism of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades following the September 11 attacks, China views the Taliban's control over Afghanistan with great concern. Beijing fears the consequences of the movement for its security and investments in neighboring countries. According to a report from the "South China Morning Post," Beijing expects chaos in Afghanistan to spill over into Pakistan, threatening the safety and security of Chinese workers.
The report cites a Chinese businessman stating that most Chinese traders in Pakistan have recently returned to China. Balochistan, a region located in southwestern Asia, stretching between Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, is a stronghold of various extremist and separatist groups, including the Islamic State and the Baloch Liberation Army. It is also home to the Gwadar port in Pakistan, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
The report notes that last month, a suicide bombing targeted Chinese citizens in Gwadar, alarming China. Beijing is concerned that the Taliban's control threatens its growing economic interests in Central Asia. Although China welcomed the formation of the Taliban government, it fears the group's support for the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang Province, which shares a border with Afghanistan.
Observers warn, according to the report, that despite China's efforts, extremist groups may become more active with the Taliban in power. Yan Wei, a professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in China, stated that the Taliban's control "will likely boost extremists' confidence." The researcher adds that the Taliban's rise encourages extremist forces in South Asia and the Middle East.
"South China" points out that despite all its efforts to expand its investment ambitions, Beijing has made only minimal progress due to the unstable situation and its fear that Afghan instability might extend to Xinjiang. China has repeatedly criticized what it considers a "hasty and unplanned withdrawal" by the United States from Afghanistan, claiming it is prepared to deepen "friendly and cooperative" relations with the Taliban following their takeover; however, reports indicate that its concerns are growing as the group consolidates its power in Afghanistan.
Beijing has repeatedly urged the Taliban to ensure stability in the country to prevent it from slipping into a hotspot for terrorism, especially given that the highly sensitive Xinjiang region in China, which is home to around 12 million Uyghurs, shares a narrow border with Afghanistan that is 70 kilometers long. The Chinese embassy in Kabul continues to operate, although Beijing has begun evacuating its citizens from the country for months due to the deteriorating security situation.
