China Says Syria Pledges Not to Allow Uyghurs to Threaten Chinese Security

Syria assures China it will prevent Uyghur fighters from using its territory to threaten Chinese security, following Assad’s ouster and the integration of foreign fighters into Syria’s military.

By Abliz Iminniyaz – Jan 23, 2026

At a regular press briefing of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesperson Guo Jiakun answered reporters’ questions regarding some individuals from the Uyghur region currently in Syria. The Chinese side stated that Syria has assured China it will not allow any organization or individual to use Syrian territory to carry out activities that harm China’s security, sovereignty, or interests.

A reporter from Iraq’s Rudaw TV asked about Syria’s position on the future destination of some Uyghurs. Previously, Qutaiba Idlbi, a Syrian Foreign Ministry official in charge of American affairs, said that China has not yet made any formal request to Syria on this matter; if a formal request is received, Syria will respond in accordance with the law.

In his response, Guo Jiakun referred to China’s position on the designation of relevant organizations and emphasized that Syria has committed not to allow its territory to be used for activities harmful to China’s interests. The Chinese Foreign Ministry later published the above Q&A on its official website.

Rudaw TV reported that Idlbi said in an interview: “So far, we have not received any formal contact from the Chinese government on this issue. Once a formal request is received, we will announce an official position.”

Previously, the Syrian government also denied a report by Agence France-Presse that it planned to repatriate some Uyghurs to China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry issued the following on its website:

Iraqi Rudaw TV reporter: Syrian Foreign Ministry official Qutaiba Idlbi stated that the Chinese government has not made a formal request to the Syrian government regarding the return of Uyghur “jihadists” to China. If China does make such a request, Syria will respond accordingly. What is the spokesperson’s comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: “East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM)” is a terrorist organization legally recognized by China and listed by the UN Security Council. Syria has pledged not to allow any entity to use Syrian territory to engage in activities that harm China’s security, sovereignty, and interests.

According to Rudaw TV, Qutaiba Idlbi, Director of American Affairs at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, told the outlet, “So far, there has been no official contact from the Chinese government regarding this matter. When we receive an official request, we will issue an official stance.”

Earlier, the Syrian government denied AFP’s report that it was planning to repatriate Uyghur fighters to China.

Changes in the Situation in Syria and the Fate of the Uyghurs

In December 2024, opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew Syria’s long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. In January 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed interim president of Syria.

After the change of regime, the status and future of foreign nationals in Syria became a focus of international attention, including some Uyghurs from the Uyghur region. International observers noted that this group includes not only individuals who took part in the Syrian conflict, but also a large number of family members, women, and children displaced by war, whose legal status is closer to that of war refugees rather than purely security-related subjects.

Some former opposition fighters have been integrated into Syria’s newly established military structure, mainly deployed in Idlib province. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) estimated in a 2025 report that the newly formed 84th Division includes about 3,500 to 4,000 ethnic Uyghur personnel; if family members are included, the Uyghur population in Syria may reach around 15,000.

Human Rights Organizations Call for Respect for International Law

Multiple international human rights organizations point out that a significant portion of this group consists of women, children, and civilians who did not participate in combat, and that their legal status should be defined more from the perspective of “refugees and war-displaced persons.”

International human rights bodies also warn that if Uyghurs are returned to China, they may face the risk of arbitrary detention, torture, unfair trials, or even disappearance.

Therefore, human rights groups call on all relevant parties, when dealing with the issue of Uyghurs in Syria, to strictly adhere to international refugee law and the principle of non-refoulement, placing the protection of life and fundamental human rights as the top priority.