The West Is Also Responsible for Devastation in Syria

The political upheaval in Syria has recently heated up with frequent and bloody massacres in the capital, Damascus.

There are complex underlying internal causes for why the situation has come to the tragic point it stands at today, but at the same time, the heavy interference of the United States, its Western allies and other external influences has had the effect of adding fuel to the fire. Western nations are determined to see Bashar al-Assad step down, both openly and covertly supporting the anti-government forces’ armed seizure of power. Lately, they also put forth a plan to establish a “no-fly zone,” with a reenactment of Libya seemingly playing itself out step by step in Syria. Favoring one side over the other blocks the progress of a political solution to the Syrian crisis, as well as obfuscating the West’s sincere “sense of responsibility” toward resolving the issue.

As numerous insightful individuals have said, the U.S. and other Western nations are only seeking to “end the status quo” in Syria, but have not given any thought as to a solution to the crisis. This type of method, “all breaking and no building,” is casting aside Syria’s future and the welfare of its people. The current turmoil in several countries in West Asia and North Africa shows that forced political change is absolutely not a panacea, and nations cannot simply start on the path to development because of it, much less be able to guarantee better lives for their people.

The direction in which the Syrian issue goes also affects the development of the overall situation in the Middle East. Syria has always been called “the heart of the Middle East.” A collapse would immediately ignite the region’s acute and long-harbored religious, nationalistic and territorial differences. In an ending such as that, the West may neither see any benefit to itself, nor be able to assume a role of responsibility.

The principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, etc., are lessons which humanity has learned only after experiencing countless cruel and bloody wars, and are the minimum that every nation must hold to. We cannot destroy a nation because we dislike a certain leader, much less incite revolution whenever a country’s people are in intense opposition with the government, bringing about political change. On the Syrian issue, China firmly advocates utilizing political channels to peacefully resolve the conflict. This may seem somewhat foolish, but is nonetheless the means to solve the root of the problem, and is also more effective and responsible. What China upholds is the sacred United Nations charter and a fundamental standard of international relations; what China insists on is the peaceful path of political dialogue and negotiation, respecting the Syrian people’s autonomous resolution of internal problems; what China is concerned about is the peace and stability of Syria and the Middle East. China’s position and efforts in that regard have received greater amounts of understanding, welcome and support from the international community. After his resignation, Special Envoy Kofi Annan ruefully expressed that if every country could have been like China in supporting his work, the state of affairs in Syria may not have come to this.

The Syrian crisis has already arrived at a critical juncture. As soon as a large-scale armed conflict erupts, it will be difficult to guarantee victory for any side, and those who suffer the greatest hardships will still be the Syrian people. The international community must insist on the path of political negotiation to resolve the crisis, as well as exhaust every possible means to quickly bring all parties back to the negotiating table and seriously explore possibilities for Syria’s future. The unwarranted criticism of certain Western nations cannot block China’s righteous efforts. Even if there exists only a thread of hope for a political solution, China will continue to put all of its effort toward making that happen. History is the best judge. Time will prove who is truly the responsible party on the Syrian issue.

The author is a visiting professor at China Foreign Affairs University.