The NYTimes has an excellent piece on Afghanistan's decision to award a huge copper concession to China. The mine at Aynak is the world's largest untapped reserve of copper.

China outbid competitors from other countries for the mine by more than $1 billion. China's efforts to snatch up minerals in Afghanistan mirror its moves to grab oil contracts in Iraq. This is part of China's strategy to aggressively safeguard its long-term access to critical mineral resources. 

It is impossible not to see this as China reaping the benefits from America's military sacrifice, while refusing to contribute to the war effort in either Iraq or Afghanistan. In both countries, America is hamstrung by bad optics-- if it won the copper concession, then it would be liable to charges that it invaded for resources. China has no such concerns.

China is currently at an inflection point of sorts in its rise- it is ruthlessly advancing its own global interests while shirking the traditional responsibilities that come with that level of influence. It wants to be treated as a developing nation while swinging at the weight of a superpower. This is clearly unsustainable.

The NYTimes mostly overlooks the other layer here: the competition for power in Central Asia. Russia, although shackled by its dark legacy in Kabul, is jealous of Chinese maneuvering. India sees Afghanistan as part of its sphere of influence, and as vital to its national security. So do Pakistan and Iran. With so many suitors, and security underwritten by Americans, the Afghans have an abundance of geopolitical options.