This is the graphic outlay of the rugged 76-kilometre border between China and Afghanistan.
What you see on the map is China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region- a Muslim separatist hotbed, Beijing’s Achilles heel. China has long feared Afghanistan, which for most of the developed world is the cradle of Islamist groups, could become a staging point for minority Uyghur separatists in Xinjiang. Ironic as it may seem, the US presence in Afghanistan worked well for China. But now with the Taliban guarding the borders in Badakhshan province, Beijing is worried. No wonder then, much before these gut-wrenching scenes unfolded at the Kabul airport, the Chinese were meeting the Talibs, behind and in-front of the diplomatic curtains.Beijing’s message to the militant group was clear; China will pour money into Afghanistan and in return Taliban will have to keep armed militia away from Xinjiang.
In 1996, when Taliban first stormed to power, China had refused to recognise their rule and shut its embassy. But then it was a different geopolitical time, the western foreign policy discourse was yet to run on Islamic jihadist movement fuel.
Now, an ambitious Beijing sees the withdrawal of its bete noire, America, from the volatile region a geopolitical opportunity to expand its influence in Central and South Asia.
No, wonder America’s bi-polar world rival, Russia, has toed the Beijing line, and China’s all weather friend Pakistan has called Taliban takeover a freeing of Afghans from slavery. In this rapidly shaping geo-political alliance, many Asharf Ghani aides have landed in New Delhi.
This geopolitical maneuvering as the Afghan Parliament building funded by India remains under the Taliban.
For Beijing the path to world dominance is fuelled by its economic ambition, and a friendly Afghan government is set to become another ugly milestone in China’s loan-and-rule foreign policy.
Afghanistan’s stability is key to protecting more than $50 billion worth of Belt-and-Road projects in neighbouring Pakistan.
Then there are vast mineral reserves, valued at over $3 trillion per conservative estimates, waiting to be exploited by Chinese miners in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is also a vacant playground for infrastructure building. Chinese investments in highways, railways and pipelines will also bolsters Beijing's Belt and Road project. So, if you were wondering why China has rushed to hug a militant Taliban, the answer as we explained is the great expansionist game that Beijing is playing, and much like Taliban is taking over without firing a shot.