President Joe Biden Says China Will Make Arrangements With Taliban

JAKARTA - US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he believed China would try to reconcile with the Taliban after the group seized power in Afghanistan on August 15.

Cited from Reuters, Wednesday, September 8, when he was asked if he was worried China would fund the group, which is sanctioned under US law, Biden told reporters, "China has a real problem with the Taliban. So they will try to make some arrangements with the Taliban".

"I'm sure. Like Pakistan, like Russia, like Iran. They're all trying to figure out what they're doing now", said President Biden.

The United States and its Group of Seven (G7) allies have agreed to coordinate their response to the Taliban. Meanwhile, Washington has blocked the Taliban's access to Afghan reserves, most of which are held in the New York Federal Reserve, to ensure they fulfill their promises to respect women's rights and international law.

But experts say much of that economic influence will be lost if China, Russia, or other countries provide funding to the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Italy, the current presidency of the Group of 20 major economies (G20), which includes China and Russia, has tried to arrange a virtual G20 meeting in Afghanistan, but no date has been announced, suggesting discord between the groups.

Separately, Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call on August 29 that the international community should engage with the Taliban and "positively guide" them.

"While respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty, the US should take concrete action to help Afghanistan fight terrorism and stop violence, rather than playing double standards or fighting terrorism selectively", Wang said,

However, China has not officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's new ruler, although Wang in July hosted Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who has since been appointed deputy prime minister.

As previously reported, the Taliban officially announced a new structure for Afghanistan's government. Mullah Hassan Akhund, who is a co-founder of the group Mullah Omar, was appointed head of the government with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar who is the head of the Taliban's political office as his deputy, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. He added that several ministries still had to be filled while waiting for the hunt for qualified people.

In response, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on Air Force One that when President Joe Biden flies to New York, there will be no immediate recognition of the Taliban government.