China's Syria policy will stand the test of time
- By Jin Liangxiang
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 21, 2014
China's adherence to the principle of non-intervention is not in conflict with its concern for humanitarian causes. China has long been advocating a political solution via negotiation and dialogue, which it believes will reduce the humanitarian cost for the Syrian people in their political transformation.
The situation on the battlefield has proven that China is right. Fighting is no way out, but will cost more lives. It is least likely that the regime's forces could eliminate the opposition clearly in a predictable future even with its recent victories; it is even less likely that the opposition could break up the regime. It seems that the opposition is not only in the quagmire of internal conflicts but also facing pressures from both of the regime and al-Qaeda elements.
Unfortunately, the West, together with some regional countries, has been taking sides in the conflicts, which has greatly undermined the atmosphere for potential constructive negotiations, though the two conflicting sides were willing to negotiate at Geneva II.
In addition, China has also contributed humanitarian emergency aid of of $2 million to Syria through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2012; in mid-January 2014, China provided material aid worth $3.3 million to Syria's relief effort via the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. These are the only two reported donations.
All in all, China has been fighting for the right solution to the Syrian crisis. Despite some dissatisfaction, China's positions have been recognized, as a political solution was listed in the joint statement of Geneva I as the path and was reiterated in Geneva II. In the future, it should receive more and more support.
Currently, though a political solution was accepted, at least on paper, there are still differences. The West wants a political solution without Bashar Assad. By that, the West intends to bring down Bashar Assad without intervention. But that certainly does not reflect the situation on the battlefield.
A final outcome might be based on a comparison of the strengths of various factions from the regime to different opposition forces, and in some way would have to reflect the strengths of various external actors from the West, Russia, Saudi Arabia to Iran.
But in order to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, external actors should push relevant parties to accept a negotiated solution based on a comparison of strengths.
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://china.org.cn/opinion/jinliangxiang.htm
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