China has issued a sharp warning against regional escalation after former US President Donald Trump suggested Washington could seek renewed access to Afghanistan’s Bagram Airbase, a move Beijing said would undermine Afghan sovereignty and fuel instability.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking at a press briefing on Friday, September 19, stressed that Afghanistan’s future should remain in the hands of its people. He cautioned that “any escalation of tensions or confrontation in the region would be undesirable.”
Trump, in remarks a day earlier, had justified his interest in Bagram by highlighting its proximity to China. “As you know, it’s only an hour away from where China produces its nuclear weapons,” he said, in comments that drew swift regional and international reactions.
Taliban Reaction
The Taliban also weighed in. Zakir Jalali, a senior aide to the group’s foreign minister, described Trump as a “successful businessman,” hinting that the remarks may have been framed in the context of bargaining rather than concrete policy. The group has consistently rejected any foreign military presence in Afghanistan since the US withdrawal in August 2021.
Ongoing Pressure in Washington
CNN, citing three sources familiar with the matter, reported that Trump has for months pressed national security officials to explore options for re-establishing a US military footprint at Bagram, once America’s largest base in Afghanistan. The base, located north of Kabul, was vacated by US forces in July 2021 after nearly two decades of use during the war.
Geopolitical Flashpoint
Analysts say the exchange highlights how Afghanistan remains a key arena of great-power competition. While Washington views the country’s geography as strategically significant—particularly in relation to China and Iran—Beijing is wary of any US military return to its neighborhood.
China has invested heavily in Afghanistan’s mining and infrastructure sectors and maintains close ties with the Taliban government. Beijing insists that stability in Afghanistan must come through reconstruction and regional cooperation rather than renewed foreign deployments.
“China hopes all parties will adopt constructive approaches to Afghanistan, promoting peace and stability rather than intensifying confrontation,” Lin said.
