Are Arab moves in Syria paving the way for a greater China presence?

Gas and electricity deals struck by Jordan, Egypt and the UAE with the Bashar al-Assad regime suggest a loss of faith in US reliability, analysts say

But there is little sign of large investment from Gulf states, and with Syria badly in need of reconstruction that ‘leaves the field open for China’

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Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Omayyad Square, Damascus. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00pm, 18 Dec 2021

Moves by key Arab states to end the isolation of war-torn Syria are strengthening China’s position as attention shifts gradually to the country’s reconstruction.

Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates recently struck three power deals with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which political analysts said reflected a loss of faith in the United States’ commitment to its Arab allies given its attention on China. Washington’s Arab allies are increasingly feeling a need to step up diplomacy to safeguard their strategic and economic interests.

“No one really wants to reward Assad and his regime. But the reality is that they are not going to be overthrown in the near term and so other states can either walk away from Syria or pursue their interests through these diplomatic, political and commercial means,” said Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

“It will not save Syria from the regime or the regime from itself, but such engagement will inevitably strengthen both the society and the regime,” he said.

During a visit to Damascus in July, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated Beijing’s desire to broaden bilateral economic relations. But a 2017 promise to invest US$2 billion in Syria has not materialised and Chinese state-owned enterprises have not made a concerted effort to enter the market.

Syrian children play with a ball in a refugee camp for displaced people run by the Turkish Red Crescent in Sarmada district of Syria. Photo: AP

Hussein believes China is waiting for others – including Arab states with which it has strong economic relations – to help recreate a more viable Syrian economy.