By Moritz Rudolf
Efforts to mediate in the Syria conflict represent a departure from China’s traditionally cautious diplomacy.
China is far removed from the Syria conflict, at least geographically: The flight distance between Beijing and Damascus is 6,900 kilometers (about 4,300 miles), and unlike the EU, China will not be confronted with an influx of refugees from the war-torn country. Nevertheless, Beijing has started to actively engage with both the Syrian government and opposition leaders in an apparent effort to mediate the conflict. The reasons for China’s new approach are a mix of geostrategic interests and the desire to be seen as an influential actor on the stage of global diplomacy.
Starting this week, representatives of the Syrian government and opposition groups are set to meet in Geneva in yet another attempt to find a solution to the four-year long civil war – and unlike in the past, the Chinese government has actively participated in the pre-summit diplomacy. On December 24, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem in Beijing. Shortly thereafter Khaled Khoja, the president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, arrived on January 5 for a multi-day visit.
Read the full story at The Diplomat