China's engagement with the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan represents a compelling case study in the evolution of its foreign policy doctrine. Beijing's approach is a highly pragmatic, interests-driven strategy that flexibly adapts to secure its most critical imperatives, by reframing its actions as ‘consultative intervention’. China's primary security objective is to prevent its border with Afghanistan from becoming a launch pad for the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which China views as a direct threat to the stability of its western Xinjiang region. Beijing also works to expand its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). China's model of engagementis shaping a new regional order in concert with powers like Russia and Iran, marking a significant geopolitical shift in Central Asia.
