Well, if the Houthis, a bunch of khat chewing tribesmen armed with minimal equipment, can beat back the Saudi-led coalition armed with the most sophisticated equipment, then it shouldn't be a surprise if ISIS can do the same. Quite the feat without access to any airlift capabilities.
I've been following the Syrian war as best I can, and have not found any evidence of Chinese assistance, with the exception of the UNSC votes. It's been *claimed* that the Chinese have been providing satellite intelligence, financial, and medical training. However, I have yet to find any evidence of Syrian troops in China for training as claimed nor any humanitarian aid. There have numerous reports from Navy Times, RT America and even the BBC of Chinese military involvement, but with no evidence to support them.
Let's start with point 3. Maybe the word excuse isn't the correct word, but what I was trying to illustrate was that the Chinese government have a valid rebuttal to any accusations thrown at them by Western governments; just like Russia and Iran. IMHO, military exercises and testing can only flush out so many deficiencies in doctrine and equipment. Nothing can replace combat experience due to the chaotic nature of it.
Point 2. Wouldn't you consider it unfair to the Syrian government and it's people that they have to clean up after China's mess? No one should be surprised, in fact I'm expecting, of evidence to surface on what the Uighurs have nefariously been doing in Syria. No sane person will blame China for wanting these Uighur terrorists back alive for questioning. I sure many attempts have been made, even by invitation, to solicit Chinese military involvement, but nothing (AFAIK). I have no doubts the Russian government tried to lobby Beijing on behalf of Syria many times. I feel that China missed a golden opportunity on the World stage. Right now, Russia is the golden boy.
Yes, you are correct that the benefactors of ISIS should be contributing to the reconstruction costs of Syria. I believe both Putin and Xi have been calling out for "international" support for reconstructing Syria. Unfortunately, there will be no "international" help. Just recently, Lavrov accused the United Nations of covertly blocking any reconstruction attempts of Syria. Another black mark for the UN.
Point 1. It's unknown if it's donations or not. But, I've just found photographic evidence of
. Again, the point I was trying to illustrate was, if you want something (i.e. reconstruction contracts), you have to give something back (i.e. involvement). The more you're involved, the bigger the pie you get.
