Assessing Prospects for U.S.-China-Afghanistan Cooperation
by Nirav Patel and David Capezza, Small Wars Journal
Assessing Prospects for U.S.-China-Afghanistan Cooperation (Full PDF Article)
The Cold War ended almost twenty years ago but American policymakers and national security strategists continue to apply a transatlantic centric model for complex global engagements. This is particularly true in regards to Afghanistan where combat operations and reconstruction assistance are primarily driven by Western actors. Clearly, it would be foolish to dismiss the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) -- after all, it is the most integrated and militarily capable organization in the world -- or the European Union which represents the pinnacle of a successful liberal regional order. Their members share similar strategic interests and values and have significant experience in complex contingency operations. However, many European nations continue to suffer from nostalgia of yesteryear where its troops and soldiers enjoyed the Cold War comforts of a "cold peace." What is becoming even more evident is that Western nations are facing significant financial limitations due to the economic recession and will unlikely be able to provide necessary economic assistance for reconstruction efforts.
Afghanistan is not only an Article 5 mission for NATO, but also represents a major test for the organization. Despite beliefs among many in the U.S. national security community that failure for NATO-members to take a lead in Afghanistan operations will sound the death knell for the Alliance; it seems more likely that Afghanistan will impel a major strategic reassessment of the function of NATO. Regardless, these debates often induce policy paralysis and are part of a condition that frames American strategic engagement through a transatlantic perspective. In many ways, cooperating with Europe has almost become an a priori issue of diplomatic protocol and a pillar of politically correct behavior. If America is to succeed in Afghanistan it must begin to think beyond how Europe fits into the equation and start a process of better integrating emerging powers, particularly China into its strategic process.
Assessing Prospects for U.S.-China-Afghanistan Cooperation (Full PDF Article)
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While one could not dispute the central point of this article re the need for engaging regional powers in Afghanistan/Pakistan, some points struck me as perhaps ill-considered. In Part 2: Leveraging China the idea is introduced that the PRC craves to be a "responsible stakeholder". In fact, it was the US that pushed this concept on Beijing, and it has by no means been universally welcomed in the PRC. Then there is the suggestion that PRC direct investment in Afghanistan would be wholly beneficial. This neglects entirely the common concern in those regions (Africa, Latin America, the South Pacific) where PRC investment is already manifest that locals often miss out on many of the benefits of large projects like copper mines because jobs tend to go to imported Chinese labourers. Finally, the paper sidelines the key relationship for the PRC in South Asia: that with its ally Pakistan. Beijing is likely to look first at the views of Pakistan before considering deeper involvement in Afghanistan.