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Will US pull-out from Afghanistan really benefit China?
- Chinese diplomats and state media have been keen to capitalise on the American withdrawal, but Joe Biden says it will allow Washington to focus more on Beijing
- Diplomatic observers say the two countries’ different attitudes towards the Taliban could provide another area of contention
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The US withdrawal from Afghanistan may not be good news for China if it frees up military resources and allows Washington to focus more on the strategic rivalry with Beijing, diplomatic observers have said.
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US President Joe Biden has defended his decision by saying it will give the United States the opportunity to focus on countering Russia and China.
Chinese state media and diplomats have taken every opportunity to highlight images of thousands of Afghans – including those who worked for the US – desperately swarming the tarmac at Kabul airport while American cargo planes take off as the latest evidence that Washington is selfish and untrustworthy to allies and partners in Europe and Asia.
But the pull-out also risked turning Afghanistan, which has long been considered a key area for cooperation between Washington and Beijing, into the latest arena for their rivalry, analysts warned.
Maintaining stability in the country had long been a top priority shared by Beijing and Washington, Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at the Rand Corporation, said. But their differences are becoming increasingly apparent after Beijing announced that it is ready for “friendly and cooperative” relations with the Taliban.
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