Syria is now strengthening its country’s army. New Syrian Army (NSA) is being prepared. This army is such a security model that is officially including blacklisted foreign fighters around the world into its system. Now Syria is including China’s enemy Turkistan Islamic Party, which is a jihadist organization of Uyghurs, in its army.
Syria is being rebuilt after a long civil war. Meanwhile, he is now strengthening his army. But, Syria is incorporating different rebel groups into itself. Most importantly, this strategy also includes formally inducting thousands of foreign, ideological fighters into the New Syrian Army (NSA).
Involvement of China’s enemy
The 84th Division is a unit specifically created to house foreign fighters. The division is now home to about 3,500 Uyghur fighters, many of whom are associated with the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP). An organization that China considers a terrorist threat. These are not ordinary soldiers. Many Uyghur fighters have been given high positions in the Syrian army, including the ranks of brigadier general and colonel.
China put forward the condition
The New Syrian Army (NSA) is completely dependent on foreign money. China is a very important investor in the reconstruction of Syria. But the inclusion of Uyghur fighters like ETIM/TIP in the NSA is a direct threat to China’s interests in Xinjiang (the province of China where a large population of Uyghur Muslims, an ethnic group of Turkic origin) lives and Central Asia. China has clearly said that it will make big investments only when Damascus gives it strong anti-terrorism assurances.
Why is Syria including Uighurs in the army?
The new Syrian government is using the 84th Division (which consists of foreign Uighurs and TIP/TIP-like fighters) as a diplomatic weapon. If China wants to give big investment, then Syria can say, if you give good investment, then we will keep these fighters under control and will not allow any harm. On the other hand, Syria can say that if you do not invest, we can free these fighters, that is, let them fight.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are also investing money in Syria to bring stability there – especially to stop the smuggling of Captagon (drug) and prevent the re-emergence of groups like ISIS.
What is the enmity between China and Uighurs?
Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) is a jihadist (militant Islamic) organization of Uyghurs, which demands making China’s Xinjiang province a separate country.
According to The Economist, Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) was formed in 1997 by Uyghur refugees from Xinjiang in Pakistan. In the next few years, it formed relations with organizations like Taliban and Al-Qaeda. China and some other countries (such as Britain) consider TIP a terrorist organization. China used TIP’s activities to demonstrate why it was controlling and repressing the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
Millions of Uyghurs fled the country due to China’s repression of the Uyghurs (such as forced detention and forced labour). In the 2010s, many Uighurs went to Türkiye, but they faced difficulties there. At the same time, rebels started giving shelter to Uighurs in the war-torn Idlib region of Syria. It is estimated that as of 2017, 4,0005,000 Uyghurs were fighting in Syria.
How much threat is China facing from TIP?
According to The Economist, it is not clear how much threat China faces from TIP. TIP has claimed attacks inside China and has been held responsible for some attacks, but it is not known how many attacks were actually carried out by TIP. Three TIP members recently rose to senior positions in the Syrian military, but it is unlikely that TIP will be allowed to operate outside Syria.
Syria’s new government, which is cash-strapped, will want to keep China happy and TIP could be brought under any arms surrender program. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharra also said that he sympathizes with the Uighurs. But their struggle against China is not ours.
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