Syrian leader Sharaa meets Chinese envoy in first bilateral exchange since fall of Assad
Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with the Chinese ambassador to Damascus, marking the first public bilateral engagement since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in December. The meeting, reported by Syrian state media, comes after China's embassy in Damascus was looted following Assad's fall, introducing a potentially complex dynamic between the two nations.
China had been a supporter of Assad, and the new Islamist rulers in Syria have incorporated foreign fighters, including Uygurs, into the Syrian armed forces. This decision to include Islamist militants in official roles could raise concerns among foreign governments and Syrian citizens, despite the new administration's promises of tolerance and non-interference. China has previously accused some Uygurs of involvement in terrorism and has denied allegations of abusing the ethnic minority, adding another layer of sensitivity to the evolving relationship.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with the Chinese ambassador to Damascus, marking the first public bilateral engagement since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow in December. The meeting, reported by Syrian state media, comes after China's embassy in Damascus was looted following Assad's fall, introducing a potentially complex dynamic between the two nations.
China had been a supporter of Assad, and the new Islamist rulers in Syria have incorporated foreign fighters, including Uygurs, into the Syrian armed forces. This decision to include Islamist militants in official roles could raise concerns among foreign governments and Syrian citizens, despite the new administration's promises of tolerance and non-interference. China has previously accused some Uygurs of involvement in terrorism and has denied allegations of abusing the ethnic minority, adding another layer of sensitivity to the evolving relationship.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
