wondering if PLAAF should consider taking over the abandoned US air base at Afghanistan if invited by the Afghan Government and supported by the Taliban ? Is this a good idea, or an act of folly for China?
plus points are that the Chinese presence may serve as a stabilizing peace keeping force, and also safeguard the security of the westward route of the BRI including a potential construction of a new oil pipeline from Eastern Iran ( pure speculation on my part ) ??
the recent bus bombing in Pakistan killing several Chinese engineers shows that China should not pin all their oil-gas transportation plans on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as it is an easy prey to sabotage from you know who, a big hostile country in the south, cough cough.... Also a new pipeline from Iran transiting through Afghanistan may bring some economic dividends/developments to the latter.
downside of course is having a military base in Afghanistan can be interpreted by the proud local populace to be another foreign invaders to be attacked and expelled. Also the conflict between the Taliban and present regime may flare up and China caught in-between.
of course the western MSM will have a field day trumpeting yet again the evil Chinese occupation and ill intentions in a foreign country blah blah blah.
plus points are that the Chinese presence may serve as a stabilizing peace keeping force, and also safeguard the security of the westward route of the BRI including a potential construction of a new oil pipeline from Eastern Iran ( pure speculation on my part ) ??
the recent bus bombing in Pakistan killing several Chinese engineers shows that China should not pin all their oil-gas transportation plans on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as it is an easy prey to sabotage from you know who, a big hostile country in the south, cough cough.... Also a new pipeline from Iran transiting through Afghanistan may bring some economic dividends/developments to the latter.
downside of course is having a military base in Afghanistan can be interpreted by the proud local populace to be another foreign invaders to be attacked and expelled. Also the conflict between the Taliban and present regime may flare up and China caught in-between.
of course the western MSM will have a field day trumpeting yet again the evil Chinese occupation and ill intentions in a foreign country blah blah blah.
