PLA Forces to Afghanistan???

China has got a number of workers involved in contracts for the Afghan government that were killed by the Taliban already.

China considers Taliban an enemy. Taliban supports Muslim separatist movements in Xinjiang. China also has its interests in Pakistan which the Taliban and Islamic fundamentalists threaten. If NATO fails to clean up Afghanistan, the problem spreads to China's court. Considering that Afghanistan is just border to China, China has a lot more reason to be in there, than lets say the US or NATO. Also think about future pipelines running from Central Asian republics to China. China sure needs this region to be stable.

Who will lead the force?
Currently most of the multinational forces in the country is under the US-British command?
I would rather have a UN mandatory for this, maybe involve the Shanghai Cooperation Org.

Originally Posted by yehe

Who will lead the force?

Currently most of the multinational forces in the country is under the US-British command?

I would rather have a UN mandatory for this, maybe involve the Shanghai Cooperation Org.

UN? They are a toothless tiger. They will not send in troops that may be involved in any actual combat. Most every time UN troops face fire..they retreat. Witness the Congo, Chad & Lebanon..

Originally Posted by crobato

China has got a number of workers involved in contracts for the Afghan government that were killed by the Taliban already.

China considers Taliban an enemy. Taliban supports Muslim separatist movements in Xinjiang. China also has its interests in Pakistan which the Taliban and Islamic fundamentalists threaten. If NATO fails to clean up Afghanistan, the problem spreads to China's court. Considering that Afghanistan is just border to China, China has a lot more reason to be in there, than lets say the US or NATO. Also think about future pipelines running from Central Asian republics to China. China sure needs this region to be stable.

During the recent outbreaks of violence in Xinjiang, prior to the OLympics, I read in various publications eg 'atimes'.(reprinting comments made on El Jazerra) a call on the UIghurs for cessation of violence against the Chinese by Al-Qaeda. They felt that there wasn't any substantial grievance and that the Chinese were in the main, considerate towards their brother muslims..
If these reports are correct and for the fact that Al Qaeda has a presence in Afghanistan, a Chinese military involvement would certainly invoke a change of stance, by Al-Qaeda.I think the Chinese should be very wary about putting troops on the ground.

Originally Posted by yehe

Who will lead the force?
Currently most of the multinational forces in the country is under the US-British command?
I would rather have a UN mandatory for this, maybe involve the Shanghai Cooperation Org.

NATO... the current mission is a NATO mission under a UN mandate.

I'm not sure if NATO would be willing to integrate the PLA into its command structure. Many NATO members still somehow regard China as a possible future adversary.

Some kind of high-level coordination is possible though, so there is a place for China there.

Originally Posted by Maggern

I'm not sure if NATO would be willing to integrate the PLA into its command structure.

It doesn't have to. The US troops are operating independently of ISAF, so China could be in the same position.

I cannot see China agreeing to deploy independantly, which means that it would want to deploy as part of an SCO mission. It would be pointless for the SCO to deploy on the same ground as NATO and therefore, it would appear that Mr Brown is articulating a European desire to withdraw from the country.

That being said the SCO is the one organisation that could stabilise the country as there is shared ethnicities between Afghan citizens and the surrounding nations, nearly all of whom are full or candidate members. the SCO is also better structured as a Security and Development organisation to do the job as it possesses the diplomatic, civil and military capacity necessary to complete the task.

Can anyone realistically see members the SCO being drawn into the Afghanistan situation, to replace the Nato forces who started the situation anyway.Not the Russians for sure as they have already been humiliated there."Once bitten twice shy" as the going says.Despite their concern for the Taliban. the SCO main purpose is to counter balance the American presence.

...the Nato forces who started the situation anyway

You are going to have to explain that comment. Thank you!

Originally Posted by bd popeye

You are going to have to explain that comment. Thank you!

From memory, and correct me if I'm wrong the United nations sanctioned a American led Nato involvement in Afghanistan in response to Al Qaeda's attack on the World Trade Centre. As abhorrent a regime the Taliban may be,ones 'beef' was with Al Qaeda not the Taliban, as they had nothing to do with WTC attack so I consider an invasion of their country a over reaction, to appease the citizenry's desire for revenge perhaps? Considering the US is not above using covert operations to attack and train terrorist/ freedom fighters? to undermine the governments of countries they don't like, its got to expect 'tit for tat'.(Cant go down this line 2 far without becoming political )
As far as Im concerned any country that got suckered into supporting US on this issue, are stuck in a situation of their own making and they can sort it out themselves. It is better for the SCO to stay right out of it, rather than being given, in sporting parlance 'a hospital pass'.
I would have rather seen the US to bide its time, sorted out exactly where the Al Qaeda were hiding en mass and let them have it with a few daisy cutters and such like.

I would very much like to see the PLA deploy to Afghanistan and assist the US and NATO nations there. That would be excellent. It would majorly contribute to the reduction of adversarial feelings between the US and China, and bring the two nations much closer to strategic partnership. I think that China is nearly alone among the community of nations right now in having the strategic footing to take on a voluntary military mission like that.

As long as the proper rules are set out, and effective lines of communication are setup between the two forces, I do not see a reason why China can't participate in Afghanistan if they choose to.

Originally Posted by Finn McCool

I would very much like to see the PLA deploy to Afghanistan and assist the US and NATO nations there. That would be excellent. It would majorly contribute to the reduction of adversarial feelings between the US and China, and bring the two nations much closer to strategic partnership. I think that China is nearly alone among the community of nations right now in having the strategic footing to take on a voluntary military mission like that.

Im of the opinion that they shouldnt have been in Afghanistan in the first place.
Did england turn around and invade or bomb the living bejezzers out of Ireland because some IRA were carrying out terrorist activities in London?