The Western withdrawal from Afghanistan and the following collapse of the local government to the Taliban has left many international observers to ponder who might fill the resulting vacuum. Many eyes have turned to China, which had already engaged the Taliban in political dialogue, is open to formal recognition of the new regime, and is also one of its more plausible aid donors. Beijing has also increasingly touted an alternative to the Western program of liberal peace- and statebuilding that failed in Afghanistan, focused on developmental objectives and tying into Chinese strengths and interests especially under its global “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI).
Author: Robert Swaine
Robert Swaine is a Project Coordinator as part of Saferworld’s China Program. With an M.A. in Conflict, Security and Development, he specializes in sustainable business practice, Chinese foreign policy and the Belt and Road Initiative.
