Syria-China ties from counter-terrorism perspective

By Abdalla Ahmad

Over the past few years, the Syrian conflict has undergone dramatic changes at all levels, where with the US and its proxies in the region betting on an overthrow the Syrian state and changing Syria's geopolitical position toward a pro-Western stance

The war was not only against Syria, but also targeted the region and the world geopolitical path, across the East in the way to apply hegemony over Eurasia, and to achieve the geopolitical doctrine that the former American politician Zbigniew Brzezinski maintained, to a certain extent.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem during their meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 22, 2017.[Photo: Xinhua]

The United States does not conceal its strategic principles of world domination, and realized that the main threat to the continuation of this hegemony was China and Russia, therefor targeting Syria was a vital step to implement this strategy and to threaten Russian and Chinese interests in the region.

It is clear that United States uses terrorism to achieve its political goals, where terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al-Nusra and Muslim Brotherhood were tools in this war that targeted Syria and the region. 

In the end, terrorism strike back supporters, Terrorist bombings targeting different regions of the world are only the consequences of this dangerous investment of terrorism.

After more than 6 years, the Syrian army & its allies defeated ISIS, opening the door to a new phase, for drawing new geopolitical tracks in the region, and opening the door as well to the creation of a multipolar world system.

This shift on the ground and in politics is only a start to stabilizing this region of strategic importance and continuing to fight terrorism at all levels including security, military and intellectual.

Syria was able to withstand the US, and the support from countries, led by China and Russia, played a pivotal role in the crises, which became an international conflict and confrontation.

Throughout history, China's role has been remarkable, the ancient Silk Road, the friendship and the true partnership in the previous decades with Syria. China's political and economic support was great. The use of the veto in the Security Council with Russia has an important role in strengthening the steadfastness of the Syrian state. As well its efforts in providing humanitarian assistance. 

The basic principles of China's policy toward Syria can be summed up by what Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.  "Counter-terrorism is the foundation, dialogue is the way out and reconstruction is the guarantee," 

When we talk about Syrian-Chinese relations, we certainly do not talk about 10 or 20 or even 100 years, because these relations are rooted in ancient times. More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road linked China closely to Arab countries, creating harmony among Chinese and Arab civilizations.

Official Sino-Syrian relations have grown since 1955 and China's politics have been characterized by standing up to the just causes of Arab peoples against occupation and Western hegemony.

China's foreign policy toward Syria has developed not only for Syria's strategic, security and economic importance to China, but also on the basis of justice, restoration of rights and defense of the oppressed. 

China has been able to shape its foreign policy towards Syria in harmony with its interests & principles.  The development of China's foreign policy towards Syria coincided with China's rising status and strength.

In this context, the "Belt and Road" initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 is not related to investment and economic relations only, but also provides a high degree of cultural, humanitarian and community exchanges among the participating countries and aligns with Chinese strategy toward Syria.

China supports the Syrian state in the fight against terrorism, politically and logistically, in addition to reconstruction.  China recently committed 2-billion yuan for reconstruction projects in Syria.  This is an effective contribution to the stability of the region and creation of new jobs.

Despite the US attempts to change the dynamics of the conflict and upset the scales, the game in Syria is over. The Syrians and their allies have made the US lose its ability to plan for the medium or long term in Syria. 

Defeating terrorism in Syria changed the dynamics of conflict in the region, and established the parameters of a new multi-polar world.

However, the world may need several years to stabilize the region and to chart the geopolitical influence.

But, it is the time of major transformation.  The defeat of terrorism is certain, and opens the gateway to the new world ... from Damascus to China through Tehran and Moscow.                                              (Abdalla Ahmad is a Syrian expert in geopolitical affairs)