Banyan: Having it Both Ways

China claims it plans to stay in Afghanistan much longer than the United States. While it has no military presence there, it does have a major investment: a copper mine that should bring billions of dollars in profit. But this investment is in some ways possible only because of the security provided by US military forces. China thus benefits from the US military presence to help it expand its economic goals without any cost to Beijing, unless one considers buying US Treasuries as an implicit payment. Across the border, China fears extremist movements in Pakistan are inciting Uighur unrest in Xinjiang, though evidence of such is lacking. In a way, China’s position in Central Asia approximates its stance in other regions: it may grumble publicly about encroaching US power, but Beijing may enjoy privately the security and strategic balance the US military provides to the region. – YaleGlobal