Sino-afghan relations and regional instability

The article is devoted to description of China-Afghanistan relations and regional security situation. On the one hand, it touches upon the regional structure that has formed after the USA began withdrawal of their forces from Afghanistan. Afghans’ neighbors are responsible for providing stability now. It means that relation of forces in the region has changed and China’s role in providing security has increased. On the other hand, China has its internal problems and necessities. Firstly, this is economical imbalance between country’s western and eastern regions. The western region has great potential to develop, and China needs to pursue this goal if it wants to maintain its economic growth. Secondly, 80 % of Chinese import of rock-tar is supplied by sea. It has to be passed the Indian Ocean and Malaysia. The situation there is unstable, and as long as there is a conflict, it will cause great harm to Chinese economy, therefore PRC wants to diversify its resource channels. Overland resource channel looks like a viable alternative. Although China has a number of pipelines laid through Central Asia, making a pipeline network that can satisfy Chinese necessity in oil will force PRC relocate it in Afghanistan. Neither western developing nor resource channel diversification can be possible until Afghanistan is untroubled. The instability occurs due to the connection between Afghan terrorists and East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which are responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and the growth of separatist tendencies in China. To solve these problems, China has only peaceful methods available; using force is going to upset the plans. So, the only way for China is the way of smart policy and peaceful negotiations. Under such conclusion, international structures, such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization, become more important. In the beginning, it was just a trade organization but it stimulated regional integration and also served a foundation to the Economic Belt of Silk Road. Despite its lack of military or supranational functions, it has become more powerful. Leaving the opportunities of Shanghai Cooperation Organization to solve Afghanistan problem unattented would be short-sighted, so China initiated Afghanistan obtain the Organization observer status. It was important not only for China but also for Afghanistan because there reveals an opportunity to become influential in the region and receive benefits. In spite of having conditions to negotiate, the Afghan problem consists of too big a number of sides, each with its own interest, and finding a common way out is a matter of time and mutual concessions.