Will China Reconstruct Syria? Not So Fast – By Galia Lavi and Assaf Orion
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : THEY ARE ALL ON THEIR STRATEGIC WAY TO CONQUER EUROPE – CHINA – RUSSIA – IRAN
– BESA CENTER JERUSALEM ISRAEL
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem speaks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2019.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced recently in Moscow that China stands ready to participate in Syria’s reconstruction. Some see this as a confirmation of their assessment that China will assume a significant role in the reconstruction, realizing its impressive capabilities in building infrastructure. Such reports generally link the issue to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and some have gone as far as to warn that there are inherent security risks for Israel. As with other issues pertaining to China and its policies, however, many reports on this issue reflect wishful thinking, deliberate manipulation, or baseless assertions. A considered analysis of China’s interests, policy, and modus operandi points to little likelihood of significant Chinese investment and involvement in Syria in the coming years, and indicates that the danger to Israel from this possibility is highly doubtful.