Beijing has substantially expanded its economic involvement in Afghanistan since 2014. China’s investment in the country has been aimed at tapping its rich natural resources. As far back as 2007, for example, Beijing secured exclusive rights to extract copper from the Mes Aynak mine in Logar. Chinese companies have also shown interest in investing in Afghanistan’s energy sector. In 2011, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) won a $400 million bid to drill three oil fields in the Amu Darya basin for 25 years. These fields are thought to contain 87 million barrels of oil.
