US’ focus unchanged after Syria attack
Editor’s Note:
On April 7, the US military struck a Syrian airbase in response to chemical weapons attack in Idlib, Syria. How will it influence the situation in the Middle East? What role can China play in the aftermath of the attack? Will the US change its focus from the Asia- Pacific region to the Middle East? Global Times reporter Yang Chuchu and Han Jie talked with two Chinese scholars on this topic.
Wu Bingbing, deputy director of the Department of Arabic Language and Culture with Peking University
The US claims the airstrike on Syria was a response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. However, the party that is responsible for the chemical weapons attacks hasn’t been confirmed and a more comprehensive investigation by the international community is required.
The attack is an apparent unilateral action without the UN’s consent. It was not con- ducted under the framework of international cooperation and lacks legality.
To some extent, the attack catered to the interests of the Syrian opposition. It intended to adjust the balance of power in Syria in the opposition forces’ favor. However, it’s doubtful whether the airstrike fulfilled such a purpose. It remains to be seen if the US could really suppress the Syrian government by launching the attack and how the situation in Syria would develop.
China is facing three challenges after the US attack on Syria. The first is how to maintain and guarantee international cooperation and the key role that UN Security Council should play in the Syrian crisis. Second, the international community should make a thorough investigation into the chemical weapons usage in Syria so that similar chemical weapons attacks could be prevented.
The third challenge is how to preserve the faith in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis through diplomatic means. China has a clear stance that military attack is by no means an option to solve the problem. There should be restraints on the use of military solutions.
China should insist that the UN Security Council play a key role. There is no other international organization except the UN which can give legitimacy to military operations. When there are divergences among UN Security Council members, relevant countries should seek to reach a consensus through negotiations. Unilateral actions bypassing the UN Security Council can never be accepted. The Syrian issue can’t be solved by merely one country.
Li Weijian, director of the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
The main goals of the US airstrike on Syria are as follows. First, it aimed to counter the criticism on US President Donald Trump’s pro- Russian stance, and divert the media’s attention to Syria. Second, by attacking Syria, the US wants to deter North Korea. Third, as many of Trump’s domestic policies have met setbacks, the Syria attack is for setting up an image that Trump acts on what he says.
The US strike on Syria happened during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, which was out of China’s expectation.
It reflected Trump’s unpredictability. However, by dealing with the US strikes, China has enhanced its ability to respond to emergencies.
Besides, Trump has made a phone call with Xi over the Syrian issue and calls for more Chinese participation in the Syrian conflict are rising. These indicate that China’s international influence and status have been enhanced.
China is against chemical weapons attacks on civilians. As the investigation on who is responsible for the chemical weapons attack in Idlib has not concluded, China advocates for a diplomatic solution in the framework of the UN Security Council. Only through political resolution and peace negotiations can the number of these kinds of events be reduced, and more lives will be saved in the long run.
Some observers claimed that the US airstrike in Syria marks its refocus on the Middle East and departure from Barack Obama’s rebalance to the Asia- Pacific strategy, and thus, China can benefit from it. However, I don’t think the US will shift its focus back to the Middle East.
Trump has his attention set on North Korea, which is in the Asia- Pacific region. What’s more, if the US returns to the Middle East, this runs counter to Trump’s pledge of “America First” and “Make America Great Again,” since it is the US’ previous involvement in the turmoil of the Middle East that has weakened its clout.