The recent investment by a Chinese company in Afghanistan has demonstrated that China is still in a position to play a significant role in the country.
The recent oil extraction contract between the Chinese company- China Petroleum Economics and Information Research Center (CPEIC) and the interim government in Afghanistan strengthens the concept that China wants to boost its presence via economic investment.
Both countries are neighbors, and the instability in Afghanistan can create new challenges to China’s security.
On the other hand, Afghanistan is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which can connect South Asia to Central Asian countries and prepare China to grow its stake in the region further.
However, the recent move by the Chinese in Afghanistan has demonstrated that China is still in a position to play a significant role, even though it is still being determined whether the project will live up to its promise.
From a Chinese perspective, China’s presence in Afghanistan is just an extension of Beijing’s principle of non-interference. In reality, the absence of regional and significant powers’ presence made China step forward, quoted from Raffaello Pantucci by South China Morning Post.
The recent attack on Chinese citizens in Kabul shows that China’s presence in the country will confront new challenges, just as the USA did.
