In the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, China has adopted a “tri-ring” approach to the issue. This approach involves three key strategies: engagement, non-interference, and security cooperation. The tri-ring approach is an attempt by China to promote stability in Afghanistan and the wider region, while also protecting its own interests.
The first ring of China’s tri-ring approach is engagement. China has been engaging with the Taliban and other political forces in Afghanistan in an attempt to promote dialogue and reconciliation. This has included hosting Taliban representatives in China for talks and offering to play a role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. China has also been engaging with other regional powers, such as Russia and Pakistan, in an attempt to coordinate efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan.
The second ring of China’s tri-ring approach is non-interference. China has been emphasizing the importance of respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This has been a key element of China’s foreign policy in recent years, as the country seeks to avoid becoming embroiled in conflicts and disputes in other parts of the world. China has also been urging other countries to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs.
The third ring of China’s tri-ring approach is security cooperation. China has been working to promote security cooperation with other regional powers, such as Russia and Pakistan, in an attempt to promote stability in Afghanistan and the wider region. This has included joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and other forms of cooperation. China has also been working to promote security cooperation with other countries, such as the United States, in an attempt to coordinate efforts to combat terrorism and other security threats.
 is not just limited to Afghanistan. China has been using this approach in other parts of the world, as it seeks to promote stability and protect its own
interests. For example, China has been using the tri-ring approach in its relations with North Korea, where it has been engaging with the regime while also emphasizing the importance of non-interference and promoting security cooperation.
China’s tri-ring approach is driven by a number of factors. One of the key factors is China’s growing economic and strategic interests in the region. China has been investing heavily in infrastructure projects in Afghanistan and other countries in the region, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. This has given China a stake in the stability of the region and has increased its interest in promoting peace and security.
Another factor driving China’s tri-ring approach is the country’s desire to project itself as a responsible global power. China has been emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and cooperation in its foreign policy, as it seeks to counter the perception that it is a destabilizing force in the world. The tri-ring approach is seen as a way for China to demonstrate its commitment to stability and cooperation in the region.
There are also challenges to China’s tri-ring approach. One of the biggest challenges is the difficulty of engaging with the Taliban and other political forces in Afghanistan, given their history of human rights abuses and support for terrorism. China’s engagement with the Taliban has drawn criticism from some quarters, who see it as a tacit endorsement of the group’s actions.
Another challenge is the difficulty of balancing China’s interests with those of other regional powers. Russia and Pakistan, in particular, have their own interests in the region, and China’s efforts to promote stability and cooperation may not always align with theirs. China will need to navigate these competing interests in order to successfully implement its tri-ring approach.
The success of China’s tri-ring approach will depend on a number of factors. One of the key factors will be the willingness of other regional powers to cooperate with China. Russia and Pakistan, in particular, will play a key role in implementing the tri-ring approach, given their own interests in the region. If these countries are willing to cooperate with China, the tri-ring approach may have a greater chance of success.
Another factor will be the ability of China to navigate the complex political landscape in Afghanistan. The country has a long history of conflict and instability, and it will not be easy for China to engage with the various political forces in the country. However, China’s experience in other conflict zones, such as North Korea, may prove useful in navigating this complex landscape.
In conclusion, China’s tri-ring approach to the Afghanistan issue and beyond is an attempt by China to promote stability and protect its own interests in the region. The approach involves engagement, non-interference, and security cooperation, and is driven by a desire to project China as a responsible global power. However, there are challenges to the implementation of this approach, including the difficulty of engaging with the Taliban, the need to balance China’s interests with those of other regional powers, and the potential backlash from other countries and organizations that view China’s engagement with the Taliban as problematic. Nevertheless, the tri-ring approach is a significant development in China’s foreign policy, as it represents a departure from the country’s previous policy of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries.
Dr. Zukun Lyu is a research scholar in the Department of Political Science at the University of Siena. She has been to national and international conferences and written 21 research articles that have been published in international journals.