For China’s leaders, the chaotic scenes unfolding in Afghanistan have served as stinging vindication of their hostility to American might. The Chinese foreign ministry called it a lesson in “reckless military adventures.”Any smugness in Beijing could be premature. China is now left scrambling to judge how the American defeat could reshape the contest between the world’s two great powers. The American military withdrawal could also allow the United States to direct its planning and matériel toward countering Chinese power across Asia. Ending the military presence in Afghanistan frees up resources and attention to focus on the long-term rivalry with China.”

Source: International New York Times August 18, 2021 09:00 UTC