China To Provide Military Aid And Training To Syria

Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) © Damir Sagolj / Reuters

RT: China ‘to provide aid, enhance military training’ in Syria – top army official

Beijing and Damascus have agreed that the Chinese military will provide humanitarian aid to Syria, a high-ranking People's Liberation Army officer said, adding that the training of Syrian personnel by Chinese instructors has also been discussed.

Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, Guan Youfei, arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for talks with Syrian Defense Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij, Chinese Xinhua news agency reported.

During the negotiation, Guan noted China’s consistent diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis, adding that Beijing is now seeking closer military ties with Damascus.

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Update #1: China says seeks closer military ties with Syria (Reuters)
Update #2: Chinese military to provide ‘aid and training assistance’ to Syrian government (South China Morning Post)

WNU Editor: China may not be a major player in the Middle East right now .... but they are looking at the long term, and they is their first step (assisting Syria) to make this happen.

Hat tip RRH for this story.