BEIJING, December 9. /TASS/. No political force in Syria is capable of independently establishing a new balance of power or swiftly restoring peace. As a result, the Middle Eastern nation is set to endure an extended period of social unrest, Chinese experts told the Global Times newspaper.
"Different regional armed groups have varying objectives and demands in the complex Syrian issue," the publication quoted Li Xinggang, a research fellow at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University. "No force can immediately establish a new order or create a new balance of power."
Li Xinggang noted that Syria is "highly likely" to fall into long-term instability in the future. He recalled that for a long time, various foreign powers have been supporting Syrian anti-government groups to weaken and combat the Assad regime. Additionally, US troops continue to occupy oil fields and key transportation routes in the Arab republic, "inflicting significant damage to the reconstruction process and the economy."
The Chinese political analyst emphasized that Syrian opposition groups have effectively taken advantage of the situation arising from the Israeli-Palestinian and Russian-Ukrainian conflicts. Against this backdrop, the Assad regime has not received "sufficient support" from its allies.
According to Wang Jin, associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, issues within the national economic system should be considered the primary cause of Syria's destabilization. "In the past, the country had a strong armed force that could maintain control over the situation. However, economic issues have weakened its ability to sustain military strength, leading to government forces retreating or surrendering rapidly," he explained.
Wang Jin believes that Syria’s future is "extremely uncertain," as a new civil war could erupt if armed groups in the country fail to reach a resolution. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts by major powers, adding that Kurdish groups and Israel could also affect the situation.
Favorable conditions for extremists
Chinese military expert Song Zhongping suggested that in the current scenario, terrorists "could thrive in the chaos." "Now, they possess weapons and resources left by Syrian government forces, potentially enabling them to conduct more attacks within and beyond the region," he said.
According to Song Zhongping, Syria urgently requires consensus both at the national level and on the international stage to restore peace.
Syria’s armed opposition groups launched a large-scale offensive on government forces in the Aleppo and Idlib governorates on November 27. By the evening of December 7, Assad’s opponents seized several major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, and Homs. On Sunday morning, they entered Damascus as government forces withdrew from the city. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Al-Jallali expressed his willingness to peacefully transfer power. Following intra-Syrian talks, President Assad resigned and fled the country.