China opposes lifting UN sanctions on Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

China has expressed ‘serious reservations’ about proposals to remove Syrian militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (‘HTS’) from UN Security Council sanctions, despite the group’s recent takeover of Syria’s government.

‘Conditions are not yet ready for removing the relevant Syrian organisation and its key members from the sanctions list of the UN Security Council’s 1267 Committee,’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters on 18 February.

‘Syria must firmly oppose all forms of terrorist and extremist forces,’ Guo said, urging Syria’s new authorities to ‘take concrete measures to actively respond to the concerns of the international community.’

The statement follows HTS’s establishment of a caretaker government after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. While the group has pledged an inclusive political transition, its terrorist designation and Salafist ideology have drawn international scepticism.

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/lxjzh/202502/t20250218_11558214.html