On 18 September 2023, the Middle East Institute published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza's brief analysis "An ambassador arrives: China tangos with the Taliban in Afghanistan" in its weekly newsletter/blog Monday Briefing.

"The Taliban regime, which recently welcomed the new Chinese Ambassador Zhao Sheng, should know that Beijing’s wide-ranging assurances of economic investment are conditional. It is difficult to foresee how Afghanistan can suddenly turn into a vibrant playing field for Chinese economic activity without first achieving some level of stability and massive improvement in governing capacities, which would require internal reforms in addition to meaningful engagement with regional countries as well as the West," writes D'Souza.

Read the full article

About the Author

Dr. Shanthie Mariet D’Souza is founder & president, Mantraya; visiting faculty at the Naval War College, Goa; and non-resident scholar, Middle East Institute, Washington D.C.

Follow on Twitter: @shanmariet

About the Publisher

The Middle East Institute is the oldest Washington-based institution dedicated solely to the study of the Middle East. It is a non-partisan think tank providing expert policy analysis, educational and professional development services, and a hub for engaging with the region's arts and culture.

The views presented in this article are those of the speaker or author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its components.