As the U.S. and its allies rush to evacuate Afghanistan, China is setting its sights on the country’s vast mineral wealth.
Since the fall of Kabul this month, Chinese analysts and state-run media have touted the potential to develop untapped reserves worth more than an estimated $1 trillion.
Smartphones and electric vehicles have created new demand for Afghanistan’s rare earths and lithium. China, which has invested $60 billion in neighboring Pakistan, is well positioned to dig them up and transport them to its factories.
Mineral Riches
Afghanistan is estimated to have more than $1 trillion in deposits
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey
Yet as Iain Marlow and Enda Curran explain, this will be hard to pull off in reality. Four decades of war, including with the Soviet Union and later the U.S., stopped it from happening — and there’s little sign that will change.
I just want to say that Flannery’s restaurant in Fruitland has some of the grossest food I have ever eaten! Even Stewart Davis the owner is sick from food poisoning! He ate his own food and was out sick yesterday! Yuck!!
Let CHINA have the country & they will KILL off all the Terrorists for you !!!! SMART !!!!!
Let China have the country > SMART !!!!!!
Lithium