bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Teddy Ng

Zhao Ziwen

China is sending winter supplies to Afghanistan, which is facing an acute financial and humanitarian crisis.
Diplomatic observers said the aid and infrastructure would help build ties with the Taliban.
The Taliban, which seized power in August following the withdrawal of American troops, is facing a series of challenges in reconstructing the country.
The winter has intensified the crisis it is facing. Reports have estimated that nearly 23 million people lack adequate food supplies, and the US has frozen around US$9 billion in Afghan assets.
Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Centre for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, said Afghanistan faces a “systemic crisis” and the humanitarian situation will be “very serious”.
Zhu said this could “seriously challenge” this Taliban’s rule due to its lack of experience.
This week, China sent a second batch of winter supplies that will assist about 50,000 Afghan families, including 70,000 blankets and more than 40,000 down coats.
Chinese and Afghan officials also announced a project to build a mosque and two wells in Kabul.


In the ceremony to inaugurate the projects on Sunday, the Chinese ambassador Wang Yu said China would also help Afghanistan in international affairs.
“[We are] speaking out on the international stage for developing countries like Afghanistan and countries that have suffered unfair treatment,” Wang said, according to a statement by the embassy.
Ma Xiaolin, a senior professor at Zhejiang International Studies University, said Chinese material aid is important, but it will not fully alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Ma said the country’s geography meant it suffered cold winters and “imports of fuel and medical resources are blocked” while its mining industry is suffering as a result of decades of conflict.

He added: “The stability of the Taliban’s regime would be greatly affected, and there is a risk that the local population would defect to terrorist and extreme groups and organise disobedience movements; at the same time, there is a risk that ethnic problems within Afghanistan could be stirred up.”
Beijing has not officially recognised the Taliban government and has said it will not be the first to do so, but it is stepping up its engagement with the group.
In September, Beijing announced it would donate 200 million yuan (US$31 million) in aid, including food and coronavirus vaccines. In November China also agreed a deal to import pine nuts, one of the country’s most important crops.


Representatives from five Chinese firms have also been allowed to inspect mining sites, but security concerns mean little progress has been made.
Zhu said China’s influence in Afghanistan is on the rise, but its influence is still limited.
“There are still risks to China’s interaction with the Taliban in Afghanistan,” Zhu said, citing the group’s internal divisions and different views towards China, as well as possible changes in US policy.
Dead or alive? On the trail of the Taliban’s elusive supreme leader
Zhu also said that there would be no “large-scale infrastructure assistance” from China to Afghanistan at the moment because of risks on the ground.
Ma said Western countries were trying to start engaging with the Taliban, but it was still up to the group to establish an “inclusive government that respects different ethnic groups and respects women.”
“Only by promoting the integration of the Taliban government into the international community can the root cause of Afghanistan’s humanitarian problems be addressed.” Ma said.


As Central Asia builds ‘smart cities’ with China, is it moving away from Russia?

Could India’s twin trade agreements set back its improving ties with China?

Violence in Balochistan rages on as Pakistan rules out talks with insurgents

Pakistan says it has killed 145 ‘Indian-backed terrorists’ after Balochistan attacks

Afghanistan

China sends aid to Afghanistan as Taliban grapples with winter crisis

Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis this winter. Photo: AFP

 Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu hands over winter supplies to members of the Taliban government. Photo Xinhua

Beijing moves to slow rush for Afghanistan’s resources by Chinese miners

China’s embassy in Kabul has reminded mining companies to be cautious about exploring potential investment sites in Afghanistan. Photo: AFP

China reopens Afghan trade lifeline but no rush to recognise Taliban

The first exports to China of Afghan pine nuts since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan arrive at Shanghai’s Pudong airport. Photo: Wang Yu

First flight of pine nuts this year bound for China with 45 tons.As Global air transport is still limited, China and Afg overcome numerous difficulties and managed flights, which solve the problem of Afg farmers,solidify the trade ties between 2 countries. 01NOV21 Photo: Twitter

Afghan prime minister defends Taliban’s rule amid economic crisis

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, left, and Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul Afghanistan. Photo: Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AFP 

China and Afghan Taliban set for closer interaction, as US urged to be ‘pragmatic’

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Afghan refugees in ‘limbo’ in Indonesia sew their mouths shut in protest

Refugees in Pekanbaru in Riau sewed their lips shut in protest at their lack of resettlement status. Photo: Handout

The refugees used a needle and thread to sew their lips shut in Pekanbaru describing it as less painful than being in limbo. Photo: Handout

Refugees in Makassar in Sulawesi demonstrate on December 9. Photo: Eko Rusdianto

Afghan refugees in Medan have set up tents and banners outside the IOM office in Medan, North Sumatra. Photo: Aisyah Llewellyn

News

China

Diplomacy


Beijing is stepping up efforts to engage with the country’s new government as millions face the risk of starvation
China is sending winter clothing and agreed to build a mosque and two wells



Beijing is stepping up efforts to engage with the country’s new government as millions face the risk of starvation.


Central Asia

War in Afghanistan

Taliban

China sends aid to Afghanistan as Taliban grapples with winter crisis

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Beijing is stepping up efforts to engage with the country’s new government as millions face the risk of starvation China is sending winter clothing and agreed to build a mosque and two wells

Beijing is stepping up efforts to engage with the country’s new government as millions face the risk of starvation

China is sending winter clothing and agreed to build a mosque and two wells