Tag Archives: Afghanistan

Chinese academics debate Afghanistan

There is some solid research being written on China’s presence in Afghanistan. I’ve earlier written about James Yeager’s report on China Metallurgical Group Corporation’s acquisition of the Aynak copper mine. I’ve also since stumbled across this report by Michael Swaine. The article is good, but the footnotes make for even better reading, referencing a surprisingly long list of articles in Huanqiu Shibao, Liaowang, and Guoji Wenti Yanjiu, among other heavy-weight journals.

I was caught by surprise. I didn’t realize Chinese academics are writing so frequently on the subject. There is certainly more material than I’ve read on most other countries in the region. But I can see why they are taking an interest.

Sun Bigan’s unavoidable clashes comment

I’ve finally tracked down a copy of Sun Bigan’s article that refers to unavoidable conflict between China and the United States in the Middle East. The article was published in the Chinese-language “Asia and Africa Review”. The quote was first referred to in an editorial by Lebanon’s Daily Star and, later, in article by Robert Fisk for the UK’s The Independent.

But the rest of the article makes for compelling reading. Sun is China’s former Special Envoy to the Middle East. He is also an Arabic speaker and former Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. Sun retired earlier this year and so enjoys greater freedom to speak his mind. And that makes him worth listening to.

A New “Great Game”

I expect to read a lot more about China’s presence in Afghanistan in the coming weeks. And it will be the type of discussion that gets politicians hot under the collar.

Geologist James Yeager, who served as an advisor to the Ministry of Mines in Afghanistan, will host a news conference on Thursday describing how a lack of interest from U.S. officials allowed China to gain a foothold in Afghanistan’s resource sector.

It’s a topic that was already attracting attention. I received a call from an NBC reporter in Kabul recently to talk about China’s $3.5 billion investment in the Aynak mine. Her report was due to air this week and will only help flag the issue.

Silk Road Gallery

Canton Trade Fair
August 12th, 2010

Editorials & Articles

“China cheat sheet helps investors survive”, Bloomberg, September 1, 2010

“No more silver bullets for Beijing”, Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2010

“China’s historic return to the Gulf”, Foreign Policy, April 2, 2010

Speaking Events

International Monetary Fund, Washington, October 10, 2010

SuperReturn Asia, Hong Kong, September 29, 2010

The Global Pricing Forum, Hong Kong, September 14, 2010