China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone discussion with U.S. Secretary or State Tony Blinken, at the Secretary’s request, today, on the situation in Afghanistan. Blinken told Wang Yi that now that the U.S. and NATO forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan, the UN Security Council should, with a clear and unified voice, issue a statement saying that the Taliban should live up to their commitments, indicating that the international community expects the Taliban to ensure the safe evacuation of foreign citizens, ensure that the Afghan people receive humanitarian assistance, and ensure that the Afghan people’s territory cannot be the source of terrorist attacks, nor a safe haven for terrorism.
Wang Yi said that the domestic situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes, and it is necessary for all parties to contact the Taliban and actively guide them. In particular, the United States needs to work with the international community to provide Afghanistan with urgently needed economic, livelihood, and humanitarian assistance to help the new Afghan regime maintain the normal operation of government institutions, maintain public security and stability, curb currency depreciation and price increases, and embark on the road of peaceful reconstruction as soon as possible, according to a statement posted to the Foreign Ministry site. (https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1902967.shtml)
Recent events have proven that not all terrorist forces in Afghanistan have been suppressed, Wang said. The U.S./NATO hasty withdrawal of troops is likely to provide opportunities for various terrorist organizations to make a comeback. The U.S. should take concrete actions to help Afghanistan stop terrorism on the premise of respecting the sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan, and should not engage in double standards or selectively fighting terrorism. “Any action to be taken by the UNSC should contribute to easing tensions instead of exacerbating them, and contribute to a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan rather than a return to turmoil,” said the Foreign Ministry statement.
