In Syria, China not beholden to Assad but alarmed over Uyghur links to HTS
While Assad's regional policies were in semblance with China’s when it came to supporting the Palestinians, defying US policy and shoring up ties with Iran, it was Bashar’s cronyism, his mishandling of the war and the economy that made him less of a strategic asset for Beijing.
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The fall of the Assad dynasty in Syria after over five decades of authoritarian rule in the heart of the Levant has sent shockwaves across global capitals, including Beijing. But it would be a mistake to assume that it’s a major setback for China, given its good ties with deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Yes, the Assads' regional policies were in semblance with China’s when it came to supporting the Palestinians, defying US policy and shoring up ties with Iran. But it was Bashar’s cronyism, his mishandling of the war and the economy that made him less of a strategic asset for Beijing.
As it looks forward, China’s biggest concern in post-Assad Syria is about the Uyghur separatist group — the Turkestan Islamic Party — fighting alongside the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
