سیاست خارجی چین در قبال افغانستان پس از بازگشت

Abstract (English)

The return of the Islamic Emirate to power in Afghanistan on 15 August 2021 brought about significant changes in the country's foreign relations and prompted diverse approaches by states toward the new government. Among them, China adopted a distinct position compared with many other international actors by maintaining and expanding its political, economic, and diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan. The continuation of high-level official meetings between the two sides, the expansion of economic cooperation, the conclusion of investment agreements—particularly in the mining sector—and the sustained presence of Chinese companies and investors demonstrate Afghanistan's strategic importance in China's foreign policy following the developments of 2021. Accordingly, this study seeks to answer the following question: Why has China maintained and strengthened its relations with Afghanistan despite the country's domestic political transformation and the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate? Drawing upon the role of international law in states' foreign policy and employing a descriptive-analytical method based on library research, the study examines the hypothesis that China's distinctive interpretation of the principles of international law—particularly the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states, together with its prioritization of national interests—has provided the foundation for the continuity of its relations with Afghanistan. The findings indicate that China, through the adoption of a pragmatic foreign policy and the use of soft diplomacy, has sought to advance its security, economic, and geopolitical interests in Afghanistan while remaining committed to its own interpretation of the principles of international law.

English