Syria FM Visits China: 'Foreign Fighters' Only a Problem When Not US-Backed
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani recently assured China that his country wouldn't allow foreign fighters to harm Chinese security. Al-Monitor highlights Beijing's concern over Uyghur militants, painted as a serious threat. One might wonder if the concern extends to other 'foreign fighters'—like, say, those the US has trained, armed, and funded for years to 'destabilize the Assad regime,'
as publicly articulated by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011 (CNN, October 13, 2011). Selective memory is a powerful tool in international diplomacy. The media narrative often frames China's security concerns (and Syria's complicity) as unique, yet overlooks the extensive documented history of Western powers supporting various armed groups within Syria, including some who later
aligned with extremist organizations. It appears only certain 'foreign fighters' are legitimate threats; others are just 'freedom fighters' until they're not useful anymore. A truly convenient distinction for global powers with a history of intervention.