China calls on Turkey to end military incursion in Syria, return to ‘right track’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – China has joined other international nations in demanding Turkey end its ongoing military operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria.

At a daily briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang urged Turkey to halt its offensive in Syria and “come back to the right track.”

Turkish warplanes and artillery began bombarding Syria’s predominantly Kurdish northeastern town of Serekaniye on Oct. 9, the beginning of an offensive Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called “Operation Peace Spring” that has since spread to several other areas. 

China had responded to the developments a day later on Oct. 10, calling on Turkey to respect “Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”

“We have noticed that all parties are generally worried about the possible consequences of Turkey’s military operation, and urged Turkey to exercise restraint,” Shuang said at the time.

Beijing joins France and Germany, among others who have demanded Turkey end its assault.

Read More: France, Germany demand end to Turkish assault on northern Syria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Sunday to discuss developments in Syria.

“We have a common desire that this offensive ends,” Macron stated after the meeting with Merkel, reiterating his warning that the continued Turkish offensive would create a humanitarian catastrophe as well as encourage the so-called Islamic State to return.

Both France and Germany announced an end of arms exports to Turkey amid mounting international pressure.

Erdogan claims he wants to create a so-called “safe zone” in northern Syria and wants to protect his country’s southern border from “terror groups,” referring to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey claims has ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Group (PKK).

However, the military incursion has caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes and seek refuge in southern areas or the neighboring Kurdistan Region.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 54 civilians have been killed since the start of the Turkish offensive.