China's participation in Syria peace talks, a win for Moscow and Damascus

Sputnik
Sun, 03 Apr 2016 14:53 UTC

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Xie Xiaoyan, Special Representative to Syria

Chinese government for the first time appointed a Special Representative for Syria, who was the former Chinese ambassador to Iran, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said. "China appointed a special envoy in order to better promote peace negotiations, to contribute to better contact with the relevant parties," the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Hong Lei also said that China supports the efforts of the Special Representative of the UN on Syria Staffan de Mistura on peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis. "China comes from the fact that a political solution is the only way out of the Syrian crisis," he added.

Linking China to a political solution of the Syrian conflict will play into the hands of Russia and the legitimate government of Syria, political analyst Anton Khashchenko said. "On the whole, the decision of China is positive for Russia and for Syria too. If you look at China's position over the past few years on the Syrian conflict, it together with Russia has vetoed the UN Security Council on the Syrian issue for four times. China as well as Russia supports the legitimate authority in Syria."

In China, as well as in Russia, there is a problem amongst its own citizens, who are attracted to Daesh. Beijing is not interested in the fact that these people are returning to China after training with the militants. "It is for these reasons and for a number of others that I think China's decision to appoint a Special Representative is such an important point, including fixing of the negotiating political process that has begun already at a normal level," Anton Khashchenko told Sputnik. According to him, China is fully interested in putting an end to terrorist groups in the region, including those that are prohibited in Russia and other countries.

"Here it is 100% interested. Several times China's position on this matter has been announced. It consists in the fact that China supports the negotiation process between Damascus and the opposition, but in any case Daesh should not fall under this truce. Regarding China's participation in the military operation against the terrorists, it should be understood that it is trying to resolve all the issues in the political mainstream," the analyst said.

In his view, China's participation will have a positive impact on the Geneva talks on Syria.

Comment: "China's position is based on the necessity to preserve Syria's independence, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope that all the sides [involved in Syrian settlement] will decrease the level of controversies, achieve broader consensus and find a solution of the Syrian problem through dialogue and consultations," - Hong Lei

Due to similar approach and understanding, the Syrian conflict has only served to strengthen the ties between Russia and China, which will be perceived by the US as a detriment. Is it? So far a relatively neutral position happens to align two powerful countries under similar perceptions to achieve a peaceful and rightful conclusion for a sovereign nation in turmoil by Western-forced regime change. The US will likely inflame this neutrality until it becomes a negative, diabolical and conspiratorial plot in order to obfuscate Western empirical intentions. The US could have been on the same page and aligned with Russia and China, for real versus pretense. Instead it chose Israel's agenda.