Two years after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, China has taken a moment to reflect on the events that led to the fall of the Afghan government, subtly pointing fingers at the U.S. for its role in the Asian nation's current state. On the second anniversary of the Taliban's control of Kabul, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed that there are "profound lessons" to be learned from the U.S.'s involvement in Afghanistan.
The Taliban assumed control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, following the departure of then-president Ashraf Ghani. This shift in power was a direct consequence of the U.S. initiating its military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The ensuing chaos saw thousands of Afghan citizens rushing to the borders and the Kabul airport. A tragic suicide attack on August 26 resulted in the death of nearly 180 individuals, including 13 U.S. servicemen. By August 30, the U.S. had completed its withdrawal, leaving the Taliban in charge.
Wang Wenbin highlighted that the events culminating in the collapse of the Afghan government signified the U.S.'s military, political, and counter-terrorism failures in Afghanistan. He emphasized that external military intervention, political infiltration, and attempts at "democratic transformation" are doomed to fail, often leading to unrest and catastrophe.
In the immediate aftermath of the Taliban's rise to power, the U.S. took measures to freeze approximately $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. Additionally, shipments of cash to Afghanistan were halted. However, in a subsequent move, the U.S. Department of Treasury and Department of State established the "Afghan Fund", earmarking $3.5 billion of Afghan central bank reserves for the welfare of the Afghan populace, while ensuring the Taliban could not access these funds.
Wang urged the "relevant country" to absorb the lessons from the Afghan debacle and fulfill its commitments to support the nation. He also stressed the importance of utilizing the frozen assets to cater to the immediate needs of the Afghan people.
Despite the challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that from August 2021 to September 2022, the U.S. had provided humanitarian assistance exceeding $1.1 billion to Afghanistan. However, a significant portion of the population, estimated at 28.3 million, still requires humanitarian aid.
On the other hand, China extended over $37 million in aid to Afghanistan in the previous year. Furthermore, in April, China expressed its intent to collaborate with Afghanistan under the Belt and Road initiative, emphasizing cooperation in combating extremism, terrorism, and separatism.
While China has yet to formally recognize the Taliban government, it has shown signs of willingness to engage. Foreign Minister Wang Yi even held meetings with Taliban leaders in Qatar in 2021, indicating China's readiness to play a constructive role in Afghanistan's future.
