China's strategy to expand cooperation with Taliban after US withdrawal

Diplomatic and security dynamics in South and Central Asia and neighboring countries increased after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021 and the Taliban's takeover of Kabul. China, as Afghanistan's neighbor in the past and now, has been particularly sensitive to developments in Afghanistan and has sought to influence developments in various ways. In the last two decades, the Taliban has been the focus of Beijing's foreign policy as an influential group in Afghanistan. Given China's action on the Taliban, it is necessary to clarify China's strategy towards the Taliban after the August 2021 regime. In this regard, through analytical-explanatory method, the question has been asked how China seeks to influence the equations of Afghanistan in the Taliban era and expand cooperation with this group? In response, it is assumed that the Taliban's security threats and economic requirements for China have led it to expand its strategic sphere of influence and access to a strategic partner in the South Asian regional security complex through constructive economic and security engagement in the form of cooperation with the Taliban. Findings shows that security and economic components of the Sino-Taliban relationship were highlighted before the US withdrawal and during the current Taliban regime, with Beijing seeking "constructive intervention and becoming an effective player" in the South Asian regional security complex Through cooperation with the Taliban.