China won’t recognise Taliban until government formation

Beijing hoping for an open, inclusive and broadly representative government in Kabul

China on Wednesday indicated it would not consider recognising the new Taliban regime in Kabul until a government was formed. Beijing was earlier this week the first major country to say it “stands ready to develop good-neighbourly, friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan” in the wake of the dramatic takeover by the Taliban and the fall of Kabul. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday clarified it was yet to recognise the Taliban regime and that would not happen until government formation.