WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein — On Tuesday, Chinese media reported on closer military ties between Beijing and the Syrian government in Damascus. During a meeting between Chinese and Syrian military delegations, the two nations "reached consensus" on improving military personnel training.
"Clearly, I think it is in China’s best interest to become involved and to stamp out this potential terrorist threat that could literally undermine the stability of the entire nation of China," Black said in a Wednesday interview.
Asked if a Chinese military deployment to Syria were likely, Black only noted that China needs to "make available whatever resources they have to ensure that the Syrian government does not fall."
The Chinese and Syrian militaries have maintained a friendly relationship, the head of China’s military delegation to Syria, Rear Admiral Guan Youfei said on Tuesday. China has been a reliable supplier of military hardware to Syria.
Black warned that the failure of the Syrian government would create a vacuum of instability and the likely reverse flow of foreign fighters, like the Muslim Uyghurs from China's Xinjiang province. The possible return of Uyghur foreign fighters should have officials in Beijing "very concerned," Black noted.
According to US intelligence estimates there are approximately 5,000 ethnically Muslim Uyghur foreign fighters from China’s Xinjiang region, fighting alongside the al-Nusra Front terrorist group in Syria.
China has largely stayed out of military operations in Syria, but a law passed in early 2016 allowing the People's Liberation Army to participate in anti-terrorism operations overseas could potentially enable a more proactive role for Beijing in the conflict.
Richard Black is the elected representative for Loudoun County, Virginia and personally met with Syrian President Bashar Assad during an April visit to the country.
