| Afghan china { January 24 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-2002039683,00.htmlhttp://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-2002039683,00.html
THURSDAY JANUARY 24 2002 Chinese enter Afghan arena FROM OLIVER AUGUST IN BEIJING HAMID KARZAI, the interim Afghan leader, visited Beijing yesterday to forge a new alliance with China that is likely to limit Western influence in Afghanistan.
Mr Karzai met senior members of the Chinese leadership, including Zhu Rongji, the Prime Minister, who are believed to have offered their support if and when Afghan rulers want to rid themselves of foreign troops on their soil.
In recent months China has become alarmed by the growing number of American and European soldiers stationed near its western border. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Beijing has regarded Central Asia as part of its sphere of influence.
While supporting the US-led campaign to drive the Taleban from power, the Chinese leadership has also warned against a permanent presence of western troops in the region, fearing encirclement.
A Chinese government spokesman said: “We have taken note that the US side has expressed on many occasions that it does not hope to have a long-term military presence in Central Asia.”
The spokesman said that Chinese leaders would discuss the US presence in Afghanistan with Mr Karzai. Privately, Chinese diplomats last month expressed relief that the Northern Alliance had refused entry to larger contingents of British and other foreign troops, despite the help provided to anti-Taleban forces just weeks earlier.
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