Bagram Airbase; Silent Battleground of US-China Rivalry
DidPress: Satellite imagery and reports from Western media outlets, such as The Telegraph, suggest renewed activity at Bagram Airbase. In contrast, Afghanistan’s caretaker government denies any foreign presence at the site, emphasizing the country’s sovereignty.
Once the largest U.S. military base north of Kabul, Bagram Airbase became a symbol of the strategic vacuum in the region after American forces abruptly withdrew in 2021. Now, rumors of a potential Chinese presence have refocused attention on the site—though both the Taliban caretaker government and figures like Zalmay Khalilzad have dismissed these claims.
Satellite images and Western media reports, including those from The Telegraph, point to new movements at Bagram. The Taliban government, however, denies any foreign operations at the base, insisting on Afghanistan’s independence. Yet, in the complex and multi-layered landscape of Afghanistan, nothing can be definitively confirmed or ruled out.
Beijing’s Possible Objectives in Bagram
While the fate of Bagram Airbase remains uncertain, China’s potential presence there could serve several strategic purposes:
1 – Countering Security Threats: Controlling extremist group activities near Xinjiang.
2 – Securing Investments: Protecting routes linked to the Belt and Road Initiative.
3 – Filling the U.S. Void: Strengthening China’s strategic foothold in a region with no direct Western rival.
The Taliban’s Balancing Act Among Powers
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led caretaker government seeks to expand economic ties with powers like China while maintaining a facade of independence—without overt political dependence. A potential Chinese presence in Bagram could be part of this strategy: leveraging multiple powers to ensure regime survival amid domestic and international pressures.
The U.S. Psychological Warfare Scenario
The discussion of China’s presence in Bagram may also be part of the broader geopolitical rivalry between Beijing and Washington. Through unofficial warnings and media narratives, the U.S. could be attempting to curb China’s influence in Central Asia.
Conclusion
Despite the lack of definitive evidence, China’s presence in Bagram—whether real or potential—holds strategic significance. The airbase has become a mirror reflecting the complex East-West rivalry in the heart of Asia, where even silence and ambiguity carry deep geopolitical messages.