Why is China so interested in Afghanistan? Not content with buying up land and businesses in the United States and Europe, now they're apparently ready to "help" Afghanistan.

With the United States technically no longer active within Afghanistan, have the Chinese stepped in? And, just how deep into the country are they? Let's take a look.

For starters, it helps to know some basic geography

China and Afghanistan share a border through incredibly mountainous and rugged terrain for 47 miles along China's Xinjian province. Consequently, due to the border sharing, China has a direct land connection with the nation.

In 2018 the Pentagon confirmed Chinese "security forces" operating in eastern Afghanistan as the People's Liberation Army conducted joint training exercises with the then-Afghani government. This intel came after photographs, eyewitnesses, and multiple diplomats confirmed the reports. [source] 

Fast forward to 2021 

July 2021

Beijing stated they would invest $62 billion into Afghanistan to aid the development of China's $3 trillion Belt and Road initiative. (BRI) [source] This Chinese initiative is a massive project to develop its road and port infrastructure throughout Asia and Europe. However, as multiple European diplomats and the American think tank C4ADS point out, China designed BRI to tip the "balance of power in favor of subsidized Chinese companies." And it will significantly improve the scope of Chinese power on a global level. [source]