The article highlights the growing influence of Uyghur militants within Syria's new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This poses a significant security concern for China, which has previously designated the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a Uyghur group, as a terrorist organization.
Uyghur militants, some with ties to groups like ETIM and the Islamic State (IS), have gained prominent positions in Syria's military and polity following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Estimates suggest that approximately 2,000 Uyghurs hold positions within the new Syrian army, with at least one high-ranking commander being a former ETIM leader.
The U.S.-China rivalry has created opportunities for such groups. While China has prioritized tackling ETIM in the past, the new Syrian regime's elevation of Uyghurs creates a diplomatic challenge, given China's past relationship with Damascus. This contrasts with the Taliban's relocation of Uyghur militants from the Afghanistan-China border.
Western powers are engaging with al-Sharaa to stabilize Syria, potentially limiting China's influence. This, coupled with China's strained relationships with certain regional powers like Israel and some Arab states over Palestine and Xinjiang, forces China to reconsider its diplomatic approach.