In case you were wondering if China has any interest in what goes on in Afghanistan, here you go:
1) They share a border via the Wakhan Corridor
2) They want access to Afghanistan’s copper reserves and bid $3.5 billion to get it.
3) They built the Gwadar Port in Pakistan (opened in 2007) with hopes of one day connecting the Trans-Afghanistan pipeline
Robert Kaplan lays it out,
In Afghanistan, American and Chinese interests converge. By exploiting Afghanistan’s metal and mineral reserves, China can provide thousands of Afghans with jobs, thus generating tax revenues to help stabilize a tottering Kabul government. Just as America has a vision of a modestly stable Afghanistan that will no longer be a haven for extremists, China has a vision of Afghanistan as a secure conduit for roads and energy pipelines that will bring natural resources from the Indian Ocean and elsewhere. So if America defeats Al Qaeda and the irreconcilable elements of the Taliban, China’s geopolitical position will be enhanced.
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Cameron, what’s your take on China’s development within Afghanistan? China’s rise in power overall is curious, especially considering the debt we’re in with them.
I see you’re reading “Stranger in a Strange Land”. Have you finished? How do you like it? It’s one of my favorite Heinlein’s, along with “For Us, The Living” and “The Door Into Summer.”
Shaef,
There is an interesting peice on this topic at The Daily Dish or Andrew Sullivan’s blog. Here is the link http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/10/fighting-on-behalf-of-russia-china-and-india.html . He poses the interesting point “At some point, the American people will ask why their kids and their money are being leveraged to help China win the race for the 21st century.” I know we have talked briefly on our views of the situation, but thought you would find his review of the same author helpful.
Badski
Another very interesting article. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6865359.ece#
“We’re lost — that’s how I feel. I’m not exactly sure why we’re here,” said Specialist Raquime Mercer, 20, whose closest friend was shot dead by a renegade Afghan policeman last Friday. “I need a clear-cut purpose if I’m going to get hurt out here or if I’m going to die.”
Sergeant Christopher Hughes, 37, from Detroit, has lost six colleagues and survived two roadside bombs. Asked if the mission was worthwhile, he replied: “If I knew exactly what the mission was, probably so, but I don’t.”
@ Akshay,
The rise of China doesn’t bother me nor does their involvement in Afghanistan. If they want to invest money in the country then great. I don’t think it will get as much of a return as they’re hoping, but who knows.
I understand that many in America view China with suspicion, but I see no reason why we can’t prosper together. Ben Casnocha sums it up better than I can:
http://ben.casnocha.com/2009/07/rising-tide-lifts-all-nationstate-boats.html
Haven’t finished “Stranger in a Strange Land” yet, but I can see why it’s so popular. I bought it after seeing that it was one of Tim Ferriss’ favorite books. Heinlein is a fascinating man to me, almost more interested in him at this point than his books, but that could change.
@ Badski,
Thanks for the great articles. I agree with Kaplan, via Sullivan to a point, but my sneaking suspicion is that it will be a century or more before Afghanistan provides a good ROI for any nation involved whether it be China, Russia, India or the U.S.
The second article should be a wake up call to military commanders. When the troops are just as unclear as the average American on what exactly we’re doing in Afghanistan something has gone incredibly wrong.