Traditionally, China attributed little importance to Syria, but current circumstances are changing the situation. The report of one of Israel’s three intelligence assessment bodies, along with Military Intelligence and the Mossad, stated, “The arrival of tens of thousands of Chinese citizens fighting and living in the country raises the need for monitoring them. China is interested in as much data that can be collected on them, and it is our understanding that they would prefer to liquidate them on Syrian soil, in order to prevent their return to their region.”

– Israeli report: Thousands of Chinese jihadists are fighting in Syria