- New Chinese Ambassador Presents Credentials to Taliban Prime Minister in Kabul
- Uncertainty Surrounds the Significance of China’s Ambassadorial Appointment
- Diplomatic Relations with the Taliban: A Look at International Appointments in Kabul
According to Afghan officials, a new Chinese ambassador presented his credentials to the Taliban’s prime minister in Kabul on Wednesday, marking the first nomination of a foreign envoy at the ambassadorial level since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
No international government has officially recognized the Taliban. It was not immediately obvious whether Wednesday’s appointment signified formal recognition of the Taliban by Beijing.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment immediately.
During a ceremony, Muhammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, accepted the credentials of Zhao Xing, the new Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by Bilal Karimi, the Taliban administration’s deputy spokesman.
A Taliban administration foreign ministry spokesman verified that he was the first ambassador to be appointed since August 2021, when foreign forces withdrew and the Taliban took power.
Wang Yu, the previous Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, assumed his position in 2019 and completed his term last month.
Other nations and international delegations, such as Pakistan and the European Union, have sent senior diplomats to lead diplomatic missions in Kabul under the title ‘chargee d’affaires,’ which signifies that they are responsible for ambassadorial duties but do not hold the official position of ambassador.
Some ambassadors designated during the previous Afghan government supported by foreign powers remained in Kabul with the same title.
The Taliban entered Kabul on August 15, 2021, as the Western-supported Afghan security forces disintegrated and US-backed President Ashraf Ghani fled.
