Syria's Growing Diplomatic Relations With China

 

Syria and China are expanding their diplomatic relations. The motivation for Syria is to circumvent France, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, US, and Qatar. These countries were aiding terrorist organizations and armed groups during the civil war. Seeking a stronger alliance is a means of deterring a possible NATO intervention. Syria is now back in the Arab League. This demonstrates that Syria was able to avoid being isolated in the West Asian region. Syria has not been isolated in the Global South. It will no longer have positive relations with the West considering the sanctions and attempts to overthrow the government. China could be a useful investor in a country that requires reconstruction. Bombings from Israel and the civil war has damaged infrastructure. China wants to have more extensive diplomatic relations with the Arab world. Then there is the concern about China's access to oil. Chinese firms could return to Syria, but the US occupation of certain areas and terrorist organizations are security concerns.  The Chinese energy firms Sinopec Corp, Sinochem, and CNPC were forced to leave. The civil war made it impossible to operate. The firms invested $3 billion in Syria between 2008 and 2009. President Xi Jingping appears to want to reverse a decade long absence of investment in Syria. President Assad was able to survive with Russian military assistance. Now Syria is getting economic aid. Now that Syria is a member of the Belt and Road Initiative  it could get greater access to the East Asian economy.