China-Taliban Security Ties: A Reimagining of South Asia's Security Discourse

Authors

Amit Kumar Mr., Birla Institute of Technology & Science, PilaniFollow
Veena Ramachandran, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Pilani, CampusFollow

Author Biography

Amit Kumar is a senior research fellow and a PhD candidate in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India. He specialises in China's engagement with political Islam, with a focus on Afghanistan and its connections with Xinjiang. His research explores the intersection of terrorism, counterterrorism, and security while examining China's strategic interests in Afghanistan. His ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4000-1780.

Dr. Veena Ramachandran is an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan, India. Her research focuses on China's relations with Islam, ethnic management policies, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Her doctoral thesis, "Harmonizing Xinjiang: Examining China's Ethnic Management Strategy Post-2009," delves into China's approaches to managing ethnic tensions in the Xinjiang region. Her ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0138-5446.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.18.2.2406

Subject Area Keywords

Afghanistan, Al-Qaida, China, Civil war and internal conflict, International security, Pakistan, Security studies, Taliban, Terrorism / counterterrorism

Abstract

This article examines how China constructs a distinct security discourse on terrorism through its engagement with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Moving beyond traditional materialist interpretations of security, the study draws on critical security studies to explore how China uses language, representation, and institutional practices to frame terrorism and project itself as a regional stabilizer. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 has prompted China to expand its strategic presence in South Asia, particularly through economic diplomacy, intelligence cooperation, and regional multilateral and minilateral forums. Through qualitative discourse analysis of Chinese official statements, white papers, SCO documents, and state media narratives, this research identifies how China positions the Taliban as a manageable actor and redefines terrorism in ways that serve its domestic and regional interests. The article argues that this discursive framing directly contests India’s traditional dominance over regional counterterrorism narratives and contributes to an emerging shift in South Asia’s security architecture. By focusing on China’s security discourse, the article offers a fresh lens for understanding the politics of counterterrorism in South Asia and the broader implications of discursive power in shaping regional order.

Acknowledgements

The authors did not receive any financial support for conducting this research.

Recommended Citation

Kumar, Amit Mr. and Ramachandran, Veena. "China-Taliban Security Ties: A Reimagining of South Asia's Security Discourse." Journal of Strategic Security 18, no. 2 (2025) : 178-199.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.18.2.2406
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol18/iss2/10