A Syrian foreign ministry source has denied reports that Damascus has agreed to hand over hundreds of foreign fighters from China's Muslim Uyghur minority to Beijing, as Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani made his first visit to the country.
On Monday, AFP reported anonymous government sources as saying that that Damascus had agreed to repatriate 400 Uyghur fighters to China in batches following Beijing's request during Shaibani's visit, sparking major concerns about their safety.
Uyghurs were among thousands of foreign fighters who took part in the Syrian conflict, many of them operating in Islamist militias that helped to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The New Arab has approached the Syrian foreign ministry for further comment on the issue.
China has expressed concern about the presence of Uyghur fighters in Syria, some of whom were granted high ranks in Syria's military, including Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, the head of the Turkestan Islamic Party, and reportedly wanted to discuss the issue before proceeding with any agreements with Syria.
Regarding Uyghur fighters, Syrian political analyst Radwan Ziadeh told The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Damascus had "imposed restrictions on the movement of Uyghur fighters".
China has been accused of committing genocide against its Uyghur Muslim minority, sending hundreds of thousands of them to prison camps while brutally suppressing all manifestations of Uyghur culture.
There are around 3,200 and 4,000 Uyghur fighters integrated into the Syrian new army. China has strongly opposed this.
During their meeting, Shaibani and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties and expand cooperation.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Shaibani arrived in Beijing on Sunday following a visit to the UK.
In the meeting, Wang said that China was ready "to contribute to Syria's security and stability and will explore participating in the reconstruction of its economy", and support "a nation-rebuilding plan that aligns with the will of the people", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
The ministry statement added that China "pursues a friendly policy towards the Syrian people in all their diversity and respects their choices," calling for "adherence to respecting the fundamental interests of all parties, non-interference in internal affairs, and correcting the course of bilateral relations to return them to normal".
Wang also stressed his country's support for the peace process in Syria, saying that the solution must be "Syrian-owned and Syrian-led", and that inclusive dialogue is "essential to achieving a balance between security and development, and engaging with the international community to find a political formula that reflects the will of the Syrian people".
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government has sought to improve ties with China, after the latter was supportive of the Assad regime throughout the 14-year Syrian conflict.
Syria is also seeking to rebuild its infrastructure and economy following the destruction brought about by years of war, and repair its relations with global powers after a prolonged period of international isolation, particularly countries such as China, who are members of the UN Security Council.
President Sharaa has met with both his US and Russian counterparts, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, in recent weeks.
Prior to his visit, Shaibani said in October that Syria "needs" China for help with reconstruction, and that it has "recalibrated" its relationship with Beijing, despite the latter's previous support for Assad.
Following the fall of the Assad regime, China expressed sympathy with "the difficulties suffered by the Syrian people" and support for attempts to restore stability and development.
However, China abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution to lift sanctions on President Sharaa, expressing "legitimate concerns about counterterrorism issue - in particular foreign fighters".
Economic researcher Abdul-Azim al-Maghrabi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that he believes Syria "is seeking to integrate China" as a key partner in the reconstruction process and in financing infrastructure projects, as well as aiming to secure direct investments in several sectors, such as energy, to create job opportunities for Syria’s youth.
Detentions on the ground in Syria
On the ground in Syria, security forces arrested two men believed to be affiliated with the Assad regime in Latakia, following a security operation on Sunday.
The ministry of interior said Thaer Najm Moussa and Raed Hassan Sawadi al-Sakaj are accused of committing "grave violations against civilians" during Assad regime rule.
Their arrest came after a video dating back to 2012 circulated on Telegram, which showed Syrian man Samir Mohammed Hashri being tortured by thugs affiliated with the regime in the neighbourhood of al-Raml ad al-Janoubi. Hashri later died of his wounds.
The ministry said it identified Moussa and al-Sakaj in the video, leading to their arrest. The two will now face the "necessary legal proceedings", it added.
Meanwhile, members of the Syrian military and security services were also detained on Sunday as part of an investigation into crimes committed during sectarian violence in Druze-majority Suweida province.
Groups linked to Syrian security forces have been accused of committing atrocities during the violence, including summary executions of civilians and sectarian targeting.
Judge Hatem al-Naasan, head of the National Commission of Inquiry into the Suweida events, said those arrested were "proven to have committed violations, based on investigations conducted by the commission and on video clips from social media".
Al-Naasan said that the investigation committee documented more than 800 testimonies in official records and collected evidence related to the events.
He added that it also processed more than 900 forms related to the victims, conducting interviews and following up on their cases.
He also expressed the committee's dedication to gaining the trust of victims, witnesses, and others to secure their cooperation in providing information.
Syria has been rocked by waves of sectarian violence following the overthrow of the Assad regime, obstructing attempts to rebuild the multi-confessional country in the aftermath of the regime's fall.
A ceasefire has been in place in Suweida since July, however, on Saturday, clashes broke out between government forces and local Druze factions.
The province is now largely under the control of Druze factions, some of whom have called for separation from Syria while asking Israel to provide them with support.