China: According to a report by Nikkei Asia, a wide range of terrorist groups with different geographical, philosophical, and linguistic backgrounds are increasingly showing hostility towards China, which is currently the world’s second-largest economy. This trend coincides with China’s expanding influence across Asia and other regions.
Recently, there have been acts of terrorism in Kabul, including an attack at the Longan Hotel (also called the Chinese Hotel) that resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and injuries to two foreigners. This incident occurred shortly after the attack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on December 2, which seems to have targeted the head of the mission.
The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) has taken responsibility for both of these attacks. It appears that the Chinese government was observing the situation from a distance of 4,000 kilometres in Beijing. The next day, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, announced that a few Taliban security personnel had been killed and that some Chinese nationals had been injured. He expressed China’s deep surprise and concern over the situation.
According to an article in Nikkei Asia, this is not an isolated occurrence. There have been various grievances expressed, spanning from East Africa and the Philippines to Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, there are common and interconnected themes present in their propaganda. Many experts view a strategic connection between the targeting of China by these extremist groups and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a means to destabilize the governments in these regions.
This trend is expected to increase pressure on Beijing and its allies in the coming years. Nikkei Asia has reported that there are signs of Beijing temporarily reducing its diplomatic presence in Pakistan, a significant recipient of BRI investments where Chinese interests have been attacked multiple times over the years, due to growing security concerns.
The Consular Service Hall of the Chinese Embassy recently announced its closure “until further notice” due to an unspecified “technical cause.” However, according to multiple sources interviewed by Nikkei Asia, security was a major concern. A federal government official from Pakistan, who preferred to remain anonymous since he was not authorized to speak to the media, stated that there have been specific threats made against the Chinese in Islamabad.
