Skip to content

Should China Participate in Military Combat against ISIS?

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris, the Islamic State also killed a kidnapped Chinese hostage. The voices in support of military participation in anti-terrorism are gradually increasing. Proposals have been made that [China] join forces with Russia and Europe to combat terrorists. China Review News published a commentary article stating that such an action can only occupy a position of "moral righteousness." However, it is not only unconducive to the effective governance of global terrorism, but also may cause damage to national security and the national interests of China. 

The article argues that China’s focus on terrorism should not be in the Middle East. For China, the anti-terrorism issue most closely related to the Xinjiang region is always the terrorism in Central Asia and South Asia. With involvement in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East quagmire, the most likely outcome would be getting trapped and unable to disengage from it. Therefore, the most sensible thing for China on anti-terrorism in the Middle East is to support verbally, encourage morally, and maintain calm in action. 
What is more, the nature of China’s anti-terrorism and the West’s counter-terrorism, although sharing the same name, are completely different. China does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, does not seek regional hegemony, does not export values, and does not want to export revolution. China’s anti-terrorism is mainly to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security of people and goods. Therefore, China needs to maintain some distance from the anti-terrorism of the West whose [intention] is to maintain its economic system and export its values. 
Source: China Review News, November 21, 2015 http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1040/1/3/2/104013218.html?coluid=202&kindid=11690&docid=104013218&mdate=1121105932