United States pullout in Afghanistan creates doubt

Smooth transition

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday that foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan should withdraw in a responsible and orderly manner to ensure a smooth transition in Afghanistan and to avoid terrorist forces taking advantage of chaos.

"This is China's consistent and clear position," Zhao said, adding that the current security situation in Afghanistan is still complex and grim, and the problem of terrorism is far from being solved.

Calling the US the biggest external factor affecting the issue of Afghanistan, Zhao said that relevant decisions and actions of the US should fully respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.

"The US must take full responsibility for preserving the outcomes of the Afghan peace and reconstruction process and accommodate the legitimate security concerns of countries in the region," he said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

The spokesman also dismissed remarks made by some in the US that link its withdrawal from Afghanistan to the so-called challenge from China.

Zhao said that the political solution to the Afghanistan issue, an early realization of peace and stability in the country and the fight against terrorism are all in the common interests of all parties concerned, including China and the US.

"China will continue to maintain communication and cooperation with relevant parties in this regard and play a constructive role in realizing long-term stability in Afghanistan," he said.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, said the US decision on withdrawing troops shows that Washington is at its wits' end.

"It's not a demonstration of peace, but a prelude to a scenario where tension would escalate in higher intensity areas, such as Europe and Asia," Li said. "One important reason for withdrawal is that the US intends to focus on strategic competition with China and Russia."

He said that after the troop withdrawals, the US and NATO would coordinate their military resources in Europe and possibly deal with the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Wang Linyan contributed to this story.