China’s Security Apprehension and Strategic Interests in Afghanistan

Abstract

The United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan has increased China's security
concerns. Beijing is attempting to protect Xingjian province from possible East
Turkistan Islamic Movement cross-border incursion (ETIM). This research paper
examines China's security concerns and strategic interests in Afghanistan, and how
these have evolved over time. China's apprehension with respect to Afghanistan is
shaped by its concerns regarding the spread of terrorism, extremism, and separatism in
its Xinjiang region, which borders Afghanistan. China's strategic interests in
Afghanistan are driven by its desire to secure its energy supplies, protect its
investments in the region, and expand its economic influence in South Asia. The
research analyses China's involvement in the Afghanistan peace process, its relations
with the Taliban, and its growing military and economic presence in the region. The
paper argues that China's engagement in Afghanistan is driven by a desire to safeguard
its security interests, expand its global influence, and counterbalance the United States
in the region.