China says seeks closer military ties with Syria

[Zsari]

China says seeks closer military ties with Syria

BEIJING China wants to have closer military ties with Syria, state media on Tuesday cited a senior Chinese officer as saying during a rare visit to the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

While relying on the region for oil supplies, China tends to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, namely the United States, Britain, France and Russia.

But China has been trying to get more involved, including sending envoys to help push for a diplomatic resolution to the violence there and hosting Syrian government and opposition figures.

Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Syrian Defence Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij in Damascus, China's Xinhua state news agency said.

Guan said China had consistently played a positive role in pushing for a political resolution in Syria.

"China and Syria's militaries have a traditionally friendly relationship, and China's military is willing to keep strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Syria's military," the news agency paraphrased Guan as saying.

Both also talked about personnel training and "reached a consensus" on the Chinese military providing humanitarian aid, Xinhua added, without elaborating.

Guan also met a Russian general in Damascus, the news agency said, without giving details.

While China has shown no interest in getting involved militarily in Syria, China's special envoy for the crisis there in April praised Russia's military role in the war.

China has its own security concerns about violence in the region.

China is worried that Uighurs, a mostly Muslim people from western China's Xinjiang region, have ended up in Syria and Iraq fighting for militant groups there, having traveled illegally via Southeast Asia and Turkey.


(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-china-idUSKCN10R10R

 

[kankan326]

China should supply weapons to Syria government. Go Assad，kill those terrorists.

 

[Sipahi]

China should supply weapons to Syria government. Go Assad，kill those terrorists.

do you guys let rule uyghur turks over hans in china ???

 

[Beast]

do you guys let rule uyghur turks over hans in china ???

We China don't let who rule who based on race but on capabilities. If uyghur show potential, we will welcome them to take on bigger roles. It's fair and square in China throughout history.

The famous Zheng He who is a Muslim has no problem leading the mighty Ming fleet as overall admiral. He show his capabilities and wisdom. We don't based on religion or race.

 

[kankan326]

do you guys let rule uyghur turks over hans in china ???

Syria war is not ethnic war. It's religion war. I support Shiah. They are more moderate than Sunni.

The rebels are all extremists. Not very different with ISIS(Actually ISIS was once one of rebel groups). Many Uygurs are fighting with them. Is it difficult to understand why we stand up with Assad?

 

[Beast]

China shall send troops to fight ISIS. That will prove our point of bigger roles in international stages of riding evil.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

@Syrian Lion we have made our decision.

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Wise decision. Terrorists fighting in Syria must die there and never be allowed to return. Period.
China must supply weapons and trainers for this purpose. Better elimintate them there than within Chinese border. But the real problem lies in Afghanistan. The troublemakers are training them there to attack China and Pak.

 

[Sam.]

Really admirable decision by China.

 

[TaiShang]

Guan said China had consistently played a positive role in pushing for a political resolution in Syria.

"China and Syria's militaries have a traditionally friendly relationship, and China's military is willing to keep strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Syria's military," the news agency paraphrased Guan as saying.

Both also talked about personnel training and "reached a consensus" on the Chinese military providing humanitarian aid, Xinhua added, without elaborating.

Still does not include actual combat help, but more of a strategic assistance.

China won't be getting involved in Middle Eastern Wars. But it will make sure that none of those Uighur terrorists that are now fighting in the ranks of Turkey supported Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group (and other sorts of terrorist potpourri whose shades of color vary from dark-dark to light-dark according to US regime scale of terrorist-terrorist and terrorist-friend) will not be coming back home in one piece.

I am pro Assad and I value China's strategic involvement (as China vetoed at the UNSC US-proposed anti-Syria resolutions twice - along with Russia) but direct military involvement is out of any equation.

Russia is in the process of eliminating terrorists (well-done and moderate alike), China is already assisting Russia economically and strategically, hence, helping Syria indirectly.

That's the right approach at the moment.

 

[Zsari]

China should induct Iran and Syria into the SCO promptly.

 

[Shotgunner51]

do you guys let rule uyghur turks over hans in china ???

Yes for sure. Officials are selected/promoted based on individual's capability, not race, each and every one of our 56 ethnic groups has equally fair chance. Below are just some of the numerous Uyghur senior officials who have served (or still serving) in regional governments, PRC central government and central legislative organisation:

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Syria war is not ethnic war. It's religion war. I support Shiah. They are more moderate than Sunni.

Brother we shouldn't pick sides in this sectarian war between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

You know our ally Pakistan is majority Sunni? And Iran is majority Shi'a?

And the majority of world hydrocarbons (oil/gas) are split between Sunni and Shi'a states. There is no reason for us to side with Sunni or Shi'a when we can continue to work with both.

Religious politics is too messy to get involved in. Supporting the Syrian state should be seen in terms of geopolitics, not in terms of religions and sects.

 

[艹艹艹]

China boosts Syria support
By Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2016/8/18 1:13:39 Last Updated: 2016/8/18 7:08:13

PLA delegation visits Damascus on military cooperation
Experts said Wednesday the time is right for the Chinese military to contribute more to ending the Syrian crisis, following reports that a Chinese military delegation had visited Damascus on Tuesday to talk about military cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Fahad Jassim al-Freij, Syrian Defense Minister, in Damascus. Both sides agreed to further cooperate on personnel training and humanitarian aid from the Chinese military, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.

Guan said China has played an active role in seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis and supporting Syria's independence and autonomy, and the Chinese military is willing to strengthen cooperation with its Syrian counterparts, the ministry said.

Guan also met with a Russian general heading its Syrian reconciliation center in Damascus on Monday on "issues of common interests," the ministry said, without elaborating.

Zhao Weiming, a professor of Middle East Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, said this is the right time for the Chinese military to contribute more toward a peaceful solution of the Syrian crisis and counter-terrorism against the Islamic State (IS).

This is because the crisis is not as intense as before, and Russia and the US have started talking about political solutions after the cease-fire between the Syrian government and opposition groups in February, he said.

Since the US has been interfering militarily in China's backyard in the South China Sea, this could be pushback from the Chinese military into an area, the Middle east, that is usually considered a US sphere of military influence, Zhao told the Global Times.

"The Chinese military hasn't sent military forces to fight terrorists in Syria directly, but Guan's visit could be the first step for further cooperation," Zhao said.

China has voiced its support for anti-terrorism efforts in Syria.

Observers said China is worried about the terrorists' influence on religious extremists in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, published an article on Tuesday saying China can learn from Russian's military actions and tactics in Syria and Crimea.

However, Hua Liming, former Chinese Ambassador to Iran, said China's deeper engagement with the Syrian government does not necessarily mean it will start any military intervention in Syria.

"China's position on the Syrian crisis will not change, that is, allow the Syrians to decide their country's destiny," Hua told the Global Times on Wednesday. "Intervention from outside can only enlarge the crisis, so China will maintain the relationship with the government and encourage negotiations between different parties."

Weapons training

Song Zhongping, a Beijing-based military expert who served in the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army (now the Rocket Force), said that military cooperation between China and Syria has a long history.

"Many contracts were signed before the Syrian civil war, but due to the unstable situation, many couldn't be fulfilled in the past few years," he told the Global Times, adding that Syria's domestic situation is becoming more stable and there could be engagement again over these contracts.

There are already Chinese military advisors in Syria, focusing on personnel training in weapons, since the Syrian government forces are buyers of Chinese weapons, including sniper rifles, rocket launchers and machine guns.

"In the past, the Chinese military was very cautious when cooperating with the Syrian government, and normally, what we can see from the press is the engagement between diplomats from both sides rather than military personnel," Zhao said, adding there are several reasons why the Chinese military has previously kept a low profile.

China has no wish to offend predominantly Sunni Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia, which have been in conflict with Shia powers, including the Bashar al-Assad government. China will have to consider US and Russian feelings as the Middle East is part of their traditional power sphere, he noted.

In the five years since the Arab Spring erupted, many Arab countries have been angered by China and Russia after they have used their veto powers in the United Nations Security Council to block military intervention against the Syrian government, but now these Arab countries realize that external military intervention cannot solve the situation, Hua said.

 

[TaiShang]

China boosts Syria support
By Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2016/8/18 1:13:39 Last Updated: 2016/8/18 7:08:13

PLA delegation visits Damascus on military cooperation
Experts said Wednesday the time is right for the Chinese military to contribute more to ending the Syrian crisis, following reports that a Chinese military delegation had visited Damascus on Tuesday to talk about military cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Fahad Jassim al-Freij, Syrian Defense Minister, in Damascus. Both sides agreed to further cooperate on personnel training and humanitarian aid from the Chinese military, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.

Guan said China has played an active role in seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis and supporting Syria's independence and autonomy, and the Chinese military is willing to strengthen cooperation with its Syrian counterparts, the ministry said.

Guan also met with a Russian general heading its Syrian reconciliation center in Damascus on Monday on "issues of common interests," the ministry said, without elaborating.

Zhao Weiming, a professor of Middle East Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, said this is the right time for the Chinese military to contribute more toward a peaceful solution of the Syrian crisis and counter-terrorism against the Islamic State (IS).

This is because the crisis is not as intense as before, and Russia and the US have started talking about political solutions after the cease-fire between the Syrian government and opposition groups in February, he said.

Since the US has been interfering militarily in China's backyard in the South China Sea, this could be pushback from the Chinese military into an area, the Middle east, that is usually considered a US sphere of military influence, Zhao told the Global Times.

"The Chinese military hasn't sent military forces to fight terrorists in Syria directly, but Guan's visit could be the first step for further cooperation," Zhao said.

China has voiced its support for anti-terrorism efforts in Syria.

Observers said China is worried about the terrorists' influence on religious extremists in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, published an article on Tuesday saying China can learn from Russian's military actions and tactics in Syria and Crimea.

However, Hua Liming, former Chinese Ambassador to Iran, said China's deeper engagement with the Syrian government does not necessarily mean it will start any military intervention in Syria.

"China's position on the Syrian crisis will not change, that is, allow the Syrians to decide their country's destiny," Hua told the Global Times on Wednesday. "Intervention from outside can only enlarge the crisis, so China will maintain the relationship with the government and encourage negotiations between different parties."

Weapons training

Song Zhongping, a Beijing-based military expert who served in the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army (now the Rocket Force), said that military cooperation between China and Syria has a long history.

"Many contracts were signed before the Syrian civil war, but due to the unstable situation, many couldn't be fulfilled in the past few years," he told the Global Times, adding that Syria's domestic situation is becoming more stable and there could be engagement again over these contracts.

There are already Chinese military advisors in Syria, focusing on personnel training in weapons, since the Syrian government forces are buyers of Chinese weapons, including sniper rifles, rocket launchers and machine guns.

"In the past, the Chinese military was very cautious when cooperating with the Syrian government, and normally, what we can see from the press is the engagement between diplomats from both sides rather than military personnel," Zhao said, adding there are several reasons why the Chinese military has previously kept a low profile.

China has no wish to offend predominantly Sunni Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia, which have been in conflict with Shia powers, including the Bashar al-Assad government. China will have to consider US and Russian feelings as the Middle East is part of their traditional power sphere, he noted.

In the five years since the Arab Spring erupted, many Arab countries have been angered by China and Russia after they have used their veto powers in the United Nations Security Council to block military intervention against the Syrian government, but now these Arab countries realize that external military intervention cannot solve the situation, Hua said.

It seems that China has finally seen a glimmer of hope at the end of the Syrian nightmare (Russia-Turkey rapprochement?) and wishes to exert some political influence after it largely abstained from direct military involvement so far although it has given serious political support at the UNSC.

I can see the motive and rationale and, at this point of its development, this is the right strategy.