China was one of the first countries that expressed willingness to engage with Taliban militants diplomatically when they swept to power in Afghanistan — analysts say it’s a pragmatic move, but relations could be “tricky” considering Beijing’s strategic interests. Beijing has for years been preparing for the possibility of the Taliban’s return to power; China and Afghanistan share a border. Hours after the capital of Kabul fell into the hands of the Taliban, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said Beijing was “ready to develop good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation” with Afghanistan. Chinese authorities may be trying to protect their country from terror attacks by building relations with the Taliban.
