China welcomes 'end of anarchy' with Taliban's interim Afghan gov't, pledges US$31 million in aid

Tom Grundy
Hong Kong Free Press
Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:54 UTC

© file/China Government

The Chinese and the Afghans

China said Wednesday it welcomed the end of "three weeks of anarchy" in Afghanistan with the establishment of a new interim government in Kabul, pledging US$31 million (HK$251 million) in immediate aid as it urged the Taliban to restore order.

The Islamist group seized control of Afghanistan as US troops withdrew last month and have set up a new administration that started work Wednesday. Despite previous promises that their rule would be inclusive, the government is drawn exclusively from loyalist ranks with established hardliners in all key posts and no women.

China has been scathing about the American withdrawal, which it criticised as ill-planned and hasty. On Wednesday it said the new government would help bring stability.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a press briefing, said:

"China attaches great importance to the announcement by the Taliban of the establishment of an interim government and some important personnel arrangements. This has ended more than three weeks of anarchy in Afghanistan and is a necessary step to restore order and rebuild the country."

Foreign minister Wang Yi later held a virtual meeting with counterparts from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan — all of which border Afghanistan.

He pledged $31 million-worth of food, winter supplies, three million vaccines and other medicines.

"After security and other conditions are met, China is willing to help Afghanistan build projects that help to improve people's livelihood. Neighbouring countries should take the lead in guiding the Taliban to build a broad and inclusive political structure, pursue a moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy" and "draw a clear line with terrorist forces."

While much of the world has adopted a wait-and-see approach to engagement with the Taliban, China has said it is ready to build friendly relations with the group following their takeover.

Analysts have said a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul would open economic opportunities for China and allow for expansion of its massive overseas infrastructure drive, the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Taliban may also see China as a crucial source of economic support and potentially a key ally.

Last week a Taliban spokesman said Beijing had promised them increased aid and Covid-19 assistance.

However, Beijing is wary of the militant group providing support to Muslim-minority Uyghur separatists looking to infiltrate its sensitive border region of Xinjiang.

About the Author:
Tom Grundy is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hong Kong Free Press. He has contributed to the BBC, Euronews, Quartz, Global Post and others.

Comment: Eyes are on China as it commits to furthering relations with the Taliban:

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Beijing respects Afghanistan's "sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity" in the wake of the formation of the Taliban's new government.

Speaking at a regular press conference on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin was asked by reporters about Beijing's response to the Taliban's establishment of a government.

The spokesperson said Beijing supports the Afghan people to "independently choose a development path in line with their own national conditions" without interference in the country's internal affairs.

Wang also added that the formation of an interim government was necessary to restore domestic order and post-war reconstruction after over three weeks of "anarchy" following the Taliban's takeover that saw the then-President Ashraf Ghani flee the country. Wang also expressed hope that war-wracked Afghanistan can build a "broad and inclusive political structure" that is capable of moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy.

Wang's remarks came shortly after the Taliban's Tuesday announcement that it had named key government officials. Several of the newly appointed ministers are on a UN Security Council sanctions list, while Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani is considered an international terrorist by US authorities and is wanted by the FBI, which is offering a $5 million reward for his capture.

Several nations and institutions worldwide have taken tougher stances on Taliban leadership. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab remarked last Friday that the UK will not recognize the Taliban government, but stressed that it was time to work with the group to discuss issues such as safe evacuations, and "face up to the new reality in Afghanistan".

China, on the other hand, was dubbed as the Taliban's "main partner" by the group's spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica last week, praising Beijing's plans to invest in Afghanistan.