Taliban celebrates three years in power as Afghans suffer hunger and repression
NBCAug 24
China Grants Tariff-Free Access to Taliban-Led Afghanistan
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Above: China's ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing, looks on during the inauguration ceremony of a Mes Aynak copper deposit mining project on July 24, 2024. Image copyright: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
China's Foreign Minister Lin Jian announced on Friday that all imports from Afghanistan will be duty-free, stressing that the measure intends to "promote bilateral trade cooperation" and "mutual benefits."
This comes as the Chinese envoy to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing, said that Beijing would offer Kabul zero-tariff treatment following a meeting with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir on Thursday.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As the Taliban consolidates its grip on power in Afghanistan, the international community seems to be on track to lose the game of chicken with the insurgents. The US is the only country that still stands firm against the Taliban, and this tariff-free treatment that China has granted to Afghanistan is all the more concerning.
Establishment-critical narrative
Three years into Taliban rule in Afghanistan, the US and its Western allies continue to smear the relationship between Beijing and Kabul amid worries that China may expand its clout there. It's in the best interest of Beijing to engage in bilateral cooperation to influence the reconstruction of that country.
