China yesterday advised its citizens to leave Afghanistan “as soon as possible,” after an Islamic State attack Dec. 12 on a Chinese-owned hotel in Kabul left three dead assailants and a number of wounded Chinese. The IS group claimed credit for the attack on the Kabul Longan Hotel. According to AP, “at least two hotel guests [were] injured as they tried to escape by jumping out of a window.… Taliban forces rushed to the area and blocked all roads leading to the site…. However, the Emergency Hospital in Kabul said in a tweet Monday that it received 21 casualties, including the bodies of three people.”
On Dec. 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called the attack “egregious in nature” and said China was “deeply shocked.” Beijing demanded a “thorough investigation” and urged the Taliban government “to take resolute and strong measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Afghanistan,” Wang said. “In view of the current security situation in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again advised Chinese citizens and institutions in Afghanistan to evacuate from Afghanistan as soon as possible.” (https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202212/t20221213_10990010.html )
This attack is an attempt to put an end to Chinese economic activity in Afghanistan, including mining activity and ongoing discussions of extending the Belt and Road Initiative into the area. AP comments: “Chinese firms, with strong government backing, have tentatively sought to pursue opportunities in exploiting Afghanistan’s vast, undeveloped resource deposits, especially the Mes Aynak mine that is believed to hold the world’s largest copper deposit. In October, Taliban-appointed government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid highlighted China as a key part of Afghanistan’s economic development.”
