Express: Putin's boost in battle against ISIS: China preparing to 'team up with Russia in Syria'
CHINA could be on the verge of teaming up with Russia to unleash its military might in Syria and destroy Islamic State (ISIS).
Russia has carried out a series of deadly airstrikes against the terrorist group over the last few days and Vladimir Putin has now sent the country's most elite special forces team into the war zone.
And speculation is heightening that offensive will be bolstered by the China's People's Liberation Army, following a number of reports of military movements in the region backed up by strong words from a senior government member at a United Nations meeting.
Reports emanating from the Middle East last week said China was planning on joining the fight against ISIS "in the coming weeks", according to a Syrian army official.
WNU Editor: I for one would be shocked if China sends troops or aircraft to Syria to get involved in the war .... even a small detachment. Their focus is on their economy and on the South China Sea right now .... not Syria.
More News On Reports That China May Become Involved In The Syrian Conflict
Russia in Syria: Chinese J-15 fighter jets to join Russian air campaign against Isis? -- IBTimes
Chinese navy looms as Russia strikes Syrian rebels -- WND
China's Main Mission: South China Sea, Not Syria -- Andrew S. Erickson, National Interest
US Media Wonders Why China 'So Ambiguous About Syria -- Sputnik
Are the Chinese coming to Syria? -- Dr. Theodore Karasik, Al Arabiya
Does China Approve of Russia’s Airstrikes in Syria? -- Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat
6 comments:
Here's an interesting little piece on the situation in the ME with an interesting position on Israel's stance.
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=14288&cpage=1#comment-383487
Note that the author made what I believe to be an honest error naming Morsi as the President of Egypt.
From Al Arabiya:
The Chinese do have a vessel in the Syrian port of Latakia. According to a security official of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the vessel is “just sitting” there, possibly in case Chinese diplomats or other officials in Damascus need help or evacuation out of Assad’s areas of control. Or perhaps the vessel is observing Russian actions.
Sending military observers to a third-party conflict is an age-old practice. The Spanish Civil War was particularly noteworthy for that.
I am aware that there is a Chinese naval vessel(s) in the Mediterranean off the coast of Syria. But to get directly involved in the Syrian conflict .... if that happens I am going to spend a week just putting up posts on how much of a pivotal moment that will be in international relations for the rest of this century.
WNU,
I wouldn't be surprised at Chinese vessels in the Med, even a carrier. It would be an excellent opportunity long distance naval exercising, observation, and familiarization. What I wonder (considering how their economy is going at the moment) is how are they paying for it.
There are at least two Chinese vessels in the Med' they had been in exercises with the Russians and the Chinese.
I agree that the likelihood of the Chinese getting involved is problematic. The opportunity to observe the conflict, however, is something the PLA/PLAN would not likely pass up.
If they do get involved it would be for the same reasons that I suspect are part of Putin's motivations - field testing for weapons. You can't put a price on real warfare experience, and lessons learned would be applicable elsewhere and elsewhen.
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