ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria has pledged not to allow any entity to use its territory for activities that threaten Chinese security and interests, a senior Chinese official told Rudaw on Thursday, as concerns persist over the presence of Uyghur jihadists in the country.
Guo Jiakun, Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that “Syria has pledged not to allow any entity to use its territory to engage in activities that harm China’s security, sovereignty, or interests.”
In early December 2024, a coalition of opposition forces led by the now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), then headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, launched a swift offensive that ousted longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa was appointed Syria’s interim president in late January.
Since Assad’s fall, one of the most pressing issues concerning the international community - including China - has been the presence of thousands of battle-hardened foreign fighters in Syria.
For Beijing, the primary concern is the Uyghur militants, whose status has become a point of friction with Syria’s new leadership, particularly after reports that many were integrated into the country’s emerging military structure.
Most of the fighters are affiliated with the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), which Beijing refers to as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and designates as a terrorist organization. TIP militants played a key role in the anti-Assad campaign, operating mainly in Idlib province in northern Syria and maintaining close ties with HTS.
Following the collapse of Assad’s regime, the Syrian branch of TIP - along with other former opposition factions - was dissolved, and its members were absorbed into the newly formed defense ministry.
A 2025 report by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) estimated that between 3,500 and 4,000 Uyghur fighters were integrated into the newly established 84th Division of the Syrian army, a unit composed largely of foreign fighters. Other estimates place the total Uyghur population in Syria, including families, at up to 15,000.
Jiakun reiterated to Rudaw on Thursday that “the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is a terrorist organization recognized by China and listed by the United Nations Security Council.”
Importantly, the Chinese official’s remarks come days after a senior Syrian foreign ministry official denied reports claiming that Beijing had requested the handover of some 4,000 Uyghur fighters in Syria.
Qutaibi Idlbi, Director of American Affairs at the Syrian foreign ministry, told Rudaw, “So far, there has been no official contact from the Chinese government regarding this matter. When we receive an official request, we will have an official stance on it.”
Mahdi Faraj contributed to this report from Beijing, China.
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