The Uighur jihadi threat facing China has prompted Beijing to focus on taking on a “central role” in reconstruction efforts in Syria, reports the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA), an Israeli think-tank.
China has reportedly vowed to spend at least $2 billion towards rebuilding Syria.
Dr. Gideon Elazar, a lecturer at the Bar-Ilan University and a postdoctoral fellow at Ben-Gurion University, writes for BESA:
With the gradual collapse of ISIS and the impending conclusion of the Syrian civil war, it is becoming clear that China will play a major role in the reconstruction of Syria. Indeed, Chinese involvement in Syria has been on the rise over the past several months.This summer, China hosted the “First Trade Fair on Syrian Reconstruction Projects,” during which officials pledged $2 billion towards the rebuilding. In addition, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs has already approved a number of initial aid projects.
The Israeli think tank report comes soon after multiple media outlets have reported that Beijing may be planning to deploy its elite special forces, known as the “Tigers of Siberia” and the “Night Tigers,” to support troops loyal to dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria. China has yet to confirm any such reports. READ MORE
