China is ready to take measures to prevent further escalation, a spokesperson said

China has expressed significant concern regarding the recent developments in Syria, where jihadist militants initiated a surprise offensive last week, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday. As a supportive ally of Damascus, Beijing is ready to take measures to avert any further escalation of the situation, he stated.

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist organization, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, along with allied militias, launched a substantial assault on government-held areas in northern Syria last Wednesday. The militants captured several towns and villages across the Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama provinces.

In response, Syrian government forces, with the assistance of Russian air support, commenced a counteroffensive on Thursday, successfully reclaiming multiple settlements over the weekend and reportedly eliminating hundreds of militants while halting their advance into central Syria. However, the Syrian General Command noted that numerous army personnel were lost during the intense clashes.

“China is greatly concerned about the situation in northwestern Syria and supports efforts to maintain national security and stability,” Lin remarked during a press briefing on Monday. “As a friend of Syria, China is prepared to actively contribute to preventing any further deterioration of the situation,” he added.

The Chinese embassy in Syria is actively monitoring the local situation and has issued a security advisory for Chinese nationals living in the country. They are urged to enhance their security measures and, if feasible, relocate to safer regions, according to Lin.

In recent years, China and Syria have strengthened their relationship. Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Syrian President Bashar Assad formalized a “strategic partnership,” committing to collaborate in order to “jointly uphold international fairness and justice” amid a “volatile and uncertain global landscape.”

During that meeting, Xi expressed China’s support for Syria in its efforts to “resist foreign interference and unilateral coercion, while protecting its national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

Several other countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt, have voiced their backing for Damascus in recent days, praising its fight against terrorism. Moscow has condemned the militants’ actions as a “direct infringement on Syria’s sovereignty” and has deployed air force units in the country to support the Syrian military. Tehran has called on Islamic nations to unite in assisting Syria in its battle against the militants, attributing the escalation to Israel and the United States.