China Expresses Concern Over Syrian Army's Cooperation with Terrorist Groups

China's permanent representative at the United Nations, Fu Cong, has voiced significant concerns regarding reports that the Syrian army has recently promoted several foreign terrorist fighters, including a leader from the Turkistan Islamic Party, a recognized terrorist organization. During a UN Security Council briefing on Syria, Fu called on the Syrian government to meet its counter-terrorism commitments and ensure that terrorist factions do not utilize Syrian territory to pose threats to other nations.

Fu pointed out that Syria is currently at a critical juncture with numerous challenges ahead. He emphasized the importance of the international community coming together to support Syria in achieving stability and progress. He reiterated that despite the evolving circumstances within Syria, there remains an unwavering stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

In a recent press statement, the UN Security Council reaffirmed that member states need to combat all listed terrorist organizations and deny them safe havens. Liu Zhongmin, a scholar specializing in Middle Eastern studies, highlighted the complexity within Syrian opposition forces, which consist of both extremist factions and terrorist groups. This internal dynamic raises concerns about the political transition in Syria and the potential tensions between extremist factions and secular entities, which will likely shape the country’s governance.

Liu also noted that the current political vacuum in Syria, exacerbated by regional instability stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, could create a conducive environment for the rise of extremism and terrorism. Sun Degang, the director at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, reinforced China's long-standing position against all forms of terrorism and the calls for coherent counter-terrorism efforts without double standards. He stressed the importance of the Syrian interim government taking responsibility for the nation and standing firm against terrorism to prevent Syria from becoming a refuge for extremist movements.